Long awaited groundbreaking ceremony!

Well, the big day (well, one of them) is here... we and 500 of our closest friends gathered at the site of the future COE for the groundbreaking. According to Mark et al, the Burkina groundbreaking was the biggest ever - and it was bigger than some of the opening ceremonies!

Francophone West Africa is a place that is VERY formal; nothing is simple. All of the people had to be in place before the important guests (BIPAI visitors from Houston & the Minister of Health and his entourage). There was even an honour guard of nursing students. Pictured above is the stand for the "honoured guests" which, besides us BIPAI folks included the Minister of Health, the Governer of the Province, the assistant Mayor, representatives from many government departments, including military, police, and others.

There was a musical group and dancers, which is certainly de rigueur at any African ceremony. Some of the women in the women's dance group danced with babies in their arms or on their backs, very appropriate for the groundbreaking of a children's center.

Of course, local people came to see the spectacle.... and in true Burkinabe style there were soon people selling food and drink to the waiting crowds. Also seen wandering through the field were a cow and a donkey! The speeches were, well, speeches. Everyone professed a lot of ethusiasm for the project and were excited about have a regional center of excellence here in Burkina. After that, the crowed walked over to where the first ceremonial stone was laid, and then trees were planted by 6 honoured guests along the side of where we will be building.

The day was completed by a luncheon (which consisted of grilled chicken and beef brochettes... it was all about the meat!) and then a visit to one of the local associations, Association Espoir pour Demain (hope for tomorrow), which is one of the primary groups providing psychosocial, nutritional and educational support to kids infected or affected by AIDS. The dynamic president of AED is a friend of ours, and we hope to continue to collaborate with her.

We all really hope that this catalyzes pediatric HIV treatment here in Burkina Faso and in West Africa.