My teammates and I with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Michael Leavitt. They opened a new hospital in our village, and he came to see it. He asked the people what progress they have scene with children getting malaria over the past few years after wide distribution of mosquito nets. He also showed concern in unclean drinking water. He told the people he always wanted to see Mali and America working together. I think the Secretary’s “people” were shocked to see that three white girls were living in the village! So we were able to sit under the tent during the meeting (where soft drinks and Pringles were distributed!), and get a picture with him later. I’m not sure who the man on my left is. Ha. I think he may be the mayor of Timbuktu. He tricked me by speaking in English, so I thought he was American. Then when he asked my name I responded, “Sara.” He looked at me with a blank stare, so I repeated, “Kadidia Maiga” and he understood!
There’s also a picture of one of the new hospital rooms. Probably not much to the eye, but it beats the mat that used to lie on the floor outside on the old hospital porch!
