They waited 30 years. Progress, it was insisted, required the flooding of their village. Most of us would not think destroying a hometown synonymous with progress. What is a people to do in the face of their government? Accept their promises and relocate.
A small cinder block building sits atop the small village. The hope represented by this structure we better health. Year after year village leaders hoped. They waited. Their experience could only be described as unfulfilled promise. Children died. Adults died. Sometimes they died from a condition that could have been prevented by a functioning health post.
Last year an existing partnership pledged support to renovate the small building into a larger structure complete with living quarters for a traveling nurse. Meetings were held with village leaders and a promise was made. One wonders what those leaders must have thought hearing yet another promise. Could it be? Would it be?
Yesterday we drove to Rosario Italia. We we're hear about one year ago. When we crested the hill we saw the fulfillment of a promise. Expanded and painted, the cinder block building now provides space for a nurse, prescriptions, and lodging. All work will be done in a couple of weeks.Thirty years later what this small group of people had anticipated became reality. The most important outcome? Trust. The local organization and their partners brought hope and help where on e they only had a promise.
Listening to the village leaders describe their sense of the future confirmed the investment ASOSAP made to bring hope where there was none. The future holds opportunity for health education and Christian spiritual care for not just this village of 600, but also for surrounding villages with no health post.
What a difference a health post makes and will make.
Posted with Blogsy