Pigs In The Blanket Recipe

The Information Blanket – Neil Powell Shares His Experience In Uganda

Tell us about your experience traveling around Uganda?

It has been less than 12 months since PSFK released its Future of Health report, which was prepared for UNICEF. In that time, the report has had a great impact, perhaps none bigger than the creation of The Information Blanket , a design by Neil Powell of BMB .  Neil recently returned from a trip to Uganda, during which he delivered 1,000 Information Blankets to mothers in Uganda.  Below, he shares some insight into the experience.

The trip to Uganda has deep, personal meaning for me. I grew up on a small pig farm in rural Western Kentucky.  My father is a disabled Vietnam veteran and our family struggled hard to make ends meet.  I remember as a child feeling very unlucky about being born into our family. Often, I would look around at my friends, many of whom had much more than me, and felt hopeless.  Like I was in a hole of such depth, I could never possibly climb out.  It was at this early age that I began to realize where, when and to whom you are born is really just dumb luck.  You have no control over it.  If you’re born to a billionaire, a postal worker or a drug addict, it’s all very random. As I visited the hospitals and the villages of Uganda, it brought back those old feelings.  Even though these babies are loved and cherished by their moms, they are incredibly unlucky to be born into such a state of immense need.  They are starting out at a deficit that is much greater than any of us can ever imagine.  And, their situation is compounded by the fact that many of their mothers lack the basic knowledge to properly care for them.

Based on your experience, what do you feel are the biggest issues faced by new mothers in Uganda?

There are a few big issues that became most apparent during the trip.  First of all, there is little, if any, family planning in Uganda.  Men marry women to have their children, and in most cases, have as many as they can.  There is no dialogue. No discussion.  It’s not uncommon for a woman to have ten children by the age of 30.  They have almost no control over their own fertility.  This issue has to be tackled, or nothing will ever change.

Another issue is access to good healthcare and healthcare information.  It’s not uncommon for a mother to receive no prenatal or postnatal care.  They get pregnant, go thru their term, and the first time they’ll see a doctor is when they’re ready deliver.  Many will never make a return visit for a check up. That puts both mom and baby at serious risk.

The Cheesy Times: Cheese Recipe 5: Cheesy Pigs in a Blanket Appetizer

Get the oven preheated to 375 degrees before getting all the ingredients put together. Cut a pocket, length wise in each wiener to within about ½ inch of the ends. Fill each of these pockets with some of the cheese, divided equally. Get the crescent dough out onto a lightly floured workspace. Pull dough apart into eight triangles. Wrap one triangle around each dog filled with cheese. Brush the ends to seal with a bit of beaten egg, or a bit of water, to seal. Place on a greased cookie sheet, cheese side up. Bake for approximately 12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with ketchup, mustard or condiments of choice.

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