eyeglasses clinic

Yesterday we had a free eyeglasses clinic.  We used a  special kit made for third world countries that has generic frames with loose lenses that can be popped in the frames when the prescription has been determined.  A great idea......in therory.  It turned out to be a little more complicated than that.  We had over 50 people show up to get free perscription glasses, but as it turns out, a number of them only needed simple reading glasses (which we didn't have).  The kit only corrected for distance vision problems, since basic reading glasses are available here without a prescription.  After the first 10 patients that came in only needed reading glasses, we make an announcement that we weren't giving out reading glasses, and anyone who only had problems reading their bibles, newspapers. etc didn't need to wait in line.  Strangely enough, almost no one got up to leave.  In true kenyan mentality, they thought that getting the wrong glasses for free  was better than not getting anything at all.  And if they really didn't help at all, they could just sell them!  So we ended up with people "not being totally honest" as my sweet friend Mary put it, and bombing their vision screeen on purpose.  Now that became problematic when we made them do the vision test again after they got their new glasses, thinking there would be a marked improvement, only to be perplexed as to why they still couldn't see. 

After this whole ordeal I was feeling rather frustrated with the whole mentality here.  Why would you stand it line all day to get a pair of glasses that you don't even need?  Because they're free?  Then I saw something later that evening that made me understand a little bit more of the way people think here.  I had heard about a molasses truck that had tipped over on the main road outside the hospital that morning.  I had assumed the evening rains would eventually wash away the sticky mess.  As we drove by that evening, there were still people on the side of the road using tin plates to scoop up the spilled molasses into old jerry cans to take home.  They were actually going to use it.  Molasses that was mixed with the dirt and grime from the road.  It's a kind of poverty that I really can't imagine.  Maybe those people in line today were there to bring home glasses for their ailing father who couldn't see.  Or for their husband who was too sick to come.   They didn't understand unfortunately,  that you can't just switch prescription glasses like that.  But perhaps their intent was not as dishonest as I thought.  And how can I judge when I've never been that desperate.  I've never had to think that if I don't take it now, I'll probably never get it.  So after some reflection, I think I would name this day a success after all.  We were able to provide prescription glasses for a handful of people who really needed them, and wouldn't get them anywhere else.  

On a lighter note, I got to spend all afternoon on monday at the Mother Child Health clinic.  My job was primarily weighing babies, many of whom were chubby and naked.  Nothin' cuter than a dimply baby bottom :)  Many babies here don't wear diapers interestingly enough, but I never see mamas with wet or poopy shirts.  I am completely baffled, but will continue to investigate.

God bless,

Jessie