Umwaka Mwiza (Happy New Year)
New Years Eve Burundian Drummers in Kigutu from
We leave Bujumbura and drive two hours south along the shore of Lake Tanganyika, Congo's mountains border the lake's edge. In Mugare, we turn left off National Route 3, and begin our steep ascent up the bumpy dirt road that leads to the mountain of Kigutu where Village Health Works is perched. It's a path that thousands of patients take mostly by foot, to receive free treatment. As we jostled about in the vehicle, I think of the truly dire cases -- ones that require ambulance pick up. For the sick, the ride in the ambulance can't be comfortable with all the rocks and pot holes we hit.
For almost five years I have heard about Deo's vision to create a health care oasis in the community where he was born and raised. Everyone, he believes, including the poorest people in the world should have access to health care, regardless whether they can afford to pay. And with most hospitals and doctors located in Bujumbura - the great distance and costs make seeking medical attention difficult if not impossible.
But Village Health Works isn't only a place to go for people living in rural areas to go for treatment. In a community where for thirteen years neighbors waged war on neighbors, VHW is a place of beauty, tranquility and peace. In only two years they have served over 28,000 patients and with the help of the community they have cultivated beautiful flower gardens, vegetable gardens, a water tower with potable water, a school, and recently a traditional drumming classes, so that the Burundian drumming culture isn't lost after so many years of war.
We arrive and the moment I stepped out of the vehicle I am overcome. Tears well up seeing the beauty that has been created and knowing the commitment and hard work that has made Deo's vision a reality. Sarah, the executive director leads me a tour of the grounds taking me to the community garden when seedlings are being planted for villagers to take home. This is part of the nutrition education program which is addressing the overabundance of malnutrition. We continue to see the animals. There are about twenty chickens.
"How many are producing eggs," Sarah asks.
"Only ten."
"We're having chicken for dinner. We're eating any hen who isn't producing eggs."
There is a new goat -- a Muslim goat, I'm told. He has a long beard and is called Osman.
I am surrounded by beauty. Everywhere green hillsides slope down to the glistening waters of the lake. Cloud puffs envelope spots on the mountain side. We walk to the community center -- still under construction but almost complete. This will serve as a place for people from near and far to gather to socialize, learn and talk.
We walk to the residence hall where the doctors and many of the 60 staff members live.
As the sunsets over Lake Tanganyika, into the hills of Congo, Village Health Works very own drummers serenade us.
Soon after we gather to watch a partial lunar eclipse -- one that we're told happens only every 300 years --a true blue moon.
The festivities are underway. We go to the Community Center, to christen the space with song and dance. Deo, then Basil, a doctor from Haiti are passed overhead. There are introductions. Laughter and more song.
Dinner is served and indeed, the non-egg producing chickens have been sacrificed. Basil brings out his guitar and sings Haitian love songs, then passes the guitar to Peter one of the drumming instructors and VHW's IT guy. Peter plays the sappiest of 80s love songs. We groan and request more Haitian music. Boxed wine flows freely and midnight is approaching.
Deo slips away and returns. He has a plan. We practice saying "Umwaka Mwiza," which means Happy New Year in Kirundi. Then we march, wine in hand to the hall which houses the in patients. "Umwaka Mwiza" we cheer. The patients stir and smile and greet us. The countdown is on. With five minutes remaining before the start of the new decade a small group of us makes our way to a field for a clear view of the night sky.