The photo shows John Dada sitting in front of the two thatched round huts in the background that Frances mentions in her report below about the opening of the new HIV clinic which is now on this site
"Karen Mehring from the American Embassy came to Fantsuam Foundation yesterday (17th February) to officially open the new clinic building which was built with financial support from one of the American Ambassador's small grants.
On the site of the new clinic used to be a small round mud hut built in the traditional style with a low door way, a thatched roof and one room with a kitchen and bathroom either end. This hut was originally intended for guests to stay when the demand for other space in FF became too great. Then the hut was needed for the HD Department ( to provide counselling for people affected by HIV and AIDS). Next door to this hut was another similar one where a Canadian volunteer originally lived. When she left her hut became a health clinic which among other services delivered babies.
In order to build the new clinic one of the original huts has been demolished and the other is already half pulled down, both having served a useful purpose for many years.
For the official opening the new clinic was bedecked with purple streamers around the entrance door, a welcome sign and purple and yellow balloons inside. Karen Mehring arrived with a colleague and a press officer from the Embassy - other press representatives had also been invited.
Everyone assembled in the CCC ( Community Communications Centre) and Kelechi introduced everyone and made a very gracious speech thanking the American Embassy for their support and also other international volunteers who have contributed to FF to which Karen Mehring responded.
Then we all went up to the new clinic and Kelechi invited Karen to cut the ribbon and declare the building open. Cold drinks and biscuits were handed out and people were free to go into the new clinic. Karen who had seen the original hut, was astonished that there had been enough space to erect the new building on the site. The new building has a large entrance room as the main office and three smaller rooms which can be used for HIV counselling. Another larger room at the end is for the clinic. When the second hut has been completely demolished an additional room will be added on as a delivery suite.
You no longer need to duck your head to go in the new building as with the former hut. It is cool and light and airy , made of compressed bricks, a material used in many structures at FF.
The press were free to look around and interviewed Karen Mehring, the clinic staff and others for television and radio. Among others there, were some of the children who had been delivered at in the previous clinic housed in the traditional round hut.
Today everyone has moved in, enjoying the space and wondering how they ever managed in their one roomed huts before".