Journey to Jiujiang - Page 2

After passing two ponds and a building for the elderly, Ms. Yu and I stepped into the white four-story building which housed the children's department. Some of the children were sitting in the hall on chairs while their rooms were being cleaned. This was part of the procedure used, explained Ms. Vu, to prevent disease and to keep the children healthy.
 
The children were brought to a big hall so that their needs could be attended to. I walked to one child in a crib. Ms. Yu explained that the child had heart disease and was awaiting surgery. It was necessary for her to remain lying down so that she could breathe easier. Ms. Yu told me that they had designed a health chart to keep track of each child's physical development and health. Each caregiver was responsible for charting the children under her care. Care givers were busily dispensing medicine, changing diapers, and comforting children.
 
Ms. Yu said that she, Mr. Cao, two doctors, and two nurses rarely had eight-hour daily schedules. They would go to any place at any time if necessary to help the children. A middle-aged female doctor appeared with a young girl she had taken to her home the previous night. Ms. Yu explained that this child had survived because of the help of the doctor.
 
At present there are over 90 children under one year at the institute, and 40 who are around one year of age in foster care. The foster families are assisted with donations from a China-based charity organization. With domestic and international donations and limited funding from the local welfare office, the institute¹s facilities have been improved. A rehabilitation building is now being erected among other buildings on a garden yard. Forty or so handicapped children will receive training to become independent in the future. Special equipment is needed for this new building. Ms. Yu said they would also like to obtain two incubators for the smaller infants to increase their chance of survival. The financial situation is difficult. "We are mending the west wall with bricks dismantled from the east wall," said Ms. Yu, using an old Chinese saying.

- Continued On Page 3 -

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