June 26th & 27th
Coldplay has a song called Fix You which seems to express what I’m going through right now. There are so many issues here, which I can’t possibly understand, much less fix. As I brush up against them I am confused and frustrated, by the lack of apparent confrontation and effort to solve these problems and also by the outright corruption which is rationalized as ‘the way it is’....’this is Africa’....’things are hard here.’ How am I supposed to refute that? Would I do the same if I were in their place? Is this just the way things will always be? Is this how things were in Europe when it was developing? I’m not sure I have answers for any of these questions but let me fill you in a little about the work I’m starting to actually do.
The TOCaDI Health Program is run through another part of the Kuru Development Trust called Letloa. They operate health programs in all the Kuru Trusts. The way they are intended to run is very community based and with low costs to maintain. In each settlement there is a CTBC ( Community TB Care promoter ) who is responsible for visiting patients with TB and making sure they take their daily medication. This treatment procedure is called DOTS (direct observed therapy) and ensures that patient’s adhere to their treatment to prevent multiple drug resistance. We are supposed to go visit these CTBCs once a month to check up on how things are going and any issues they have with patients or the clinic.
My job is specifically to help in bringing a new dimension to this program- HIV/AIDs. Believe it or not, even with an HIV/AIDs prevalence rate of 17-25% Botswana has been focusing on treating TB rather than AIDs.. although ARVs are free and available to all in Bots. So the idea is that a focus on HIV/AIDS will be tied into the TB program we already have running, and additionally a testing day separate from the mobile clinic that comes once a month (or is supposed to...). In Botswana almost 86% of those with TB also have HIV but when a patient is tested positive for TB they do not have to get an HIV test, a lot of nurses and doctors don’t even ask. This new national program is targeting this problem so that anyone with TB is right away tested for HIV and put on ARVS.
We visited a village last week to meet with one of the CTBCs and spoke with them about what issues were going on, any to clarify our understanding of their jobs. It turns out that in this settlement where there is claimed to be no TB patients, there are 10 people at least who are on ARVs, meaning they have HIV/AIDs. Yet this CTBC does not help them in any way, unless in her own time. As we try to change the program we’re hoping that they can assist them in getting their monthly refill of ARVs, which they have to travel almost 20km often on foot to get and then 20 back...
The job really feels more like politicking and business..not health. Anyways I have been having a few really good conversations with some co-workers about the issues with the San in the area and outright racism, even within TOCaDI. It’s really frustrating to see it, in a place that has so many issues for basic survival it’s so sad to see ethnic tensions that seem to exist for no reason other than basic human hatred. I’ve thought that I could possibly do my research on the issues surrounding the San’s history of leaving their land to others when asked. They are not seeming confrontational in any way.. which could be cultural and/or possibly contributed to by internalization of the things they hear around them, that they’re not good for anything, shouldn’t be given jobs and even shouldn’t eat from the same pots as other Motswana. This is the division within humanity that I feel is evil. How can human beings look at each other, in one another’s eyes, and hold their children and conclude that they are less than human? It seems absolutely ridiculous.
Tomorrow the group from Canada is supposed to be arriving. I feel like it could be an utter disaster. I have no idea what’s going on, let’s just hope that Patrick has it under control. Last night I learned that he never emailed their group about whether there are allergies or food preferences, he said he felt it wasn’t necessary... that even though we were ordering 2000P worth of food... we don’t need to ask them first if they can eat it! Well that just about made my head explode and steam burst from my ears... needless to say I wasn’t exactly a stereotypical polite Canadian in that moment. But it all seems to have blown over... and now I’m waiting for the food to arrive so that I can begin cooking.
I got my guitar today, which isn’t that bad for a hundred bucks.. the neck is just a bit warped.. but I do know someone who can hopefully fix that up for me :) Also I met a French guy today, one of Sara’s friends from Maun. He’s a pilot and is staying in Shakawe for a few months flying tourists around so it seems our little expat circle is growing ... maybe I can get a flight out of it ... surprising it’s not even that expensive! It’s about 500P each if you can get 6 people to go... which is about what I spend on groceries for a month.
We baked last night, carrot cake and peanut butter cookies. No wonder I’m getting fat. Had some wine and orange juice (closest thing I could make to Sangria lol .. ) and watched Closer... which I remembered correctly is a really odd messed up movie. Dinah’s gone now for a few days, which is kind of nice actually. She’s visiting some settlements with Gae....I couldn’t go because of this hiking group. I’m not too keen on going since there’s no toilets and it’s cold... but sigh I had agreed to it before I thought it out.
I have yet to find running shoes... and I’m getting chubbier by the day. I was so excited to get away from school and sitting at a desk.. and guess what I do every day lol... oh my life is so ironic. Now I’m sitting in the dark and thinking of what to eat for dinner....rice and stir-fry? salad? pb & j..? aw now i miss paul and brittany and jess :)
If anyone sends another care package I would love to have my Kreyol song book.. it’s got a blue cover and it’s in Kreyol.. and english. Also I would love Daisy :) I’m warning you now that the likelihood of my coming home with a dog is very high... is Hannah ready for her new dog? lol it wouldn’t be a Chihuahua...or maybe I could just have two. I mean I may just head straight to my buying my ranch... two dogs would be good :)
I’m looking for investors btw ;P
It was minus 5 last night, can you believe it ? I hope my lettuce lasts :)
So,,, you put alot into this note! Thanks for explaining your role there. It gives me a better understanding of what you are up against and it definitely seems you are up against alot! But if it was easy, it probably would not require development personnel from Canada to spearhead it. and Botswana is far advanced compared to some other countries right? I think you are correct in citing Europeans, Canadians, Americans, etc. when they were in the throws of initial development. Africa though, being comprised of so many tribal communities, would make for alot of waring. Funny though, if you read the history of Scotland and Ireland, there were scads of wars between families and communities just like the African tribes. So don't become too upset. Our ancestors were far from angels! lol.
ReplyDeleteWhere did the guitar come from? You paid $100 for a warped neck? Or is this yours? Did you have it shipped to you?
As far as the dog is concerned, you can forget it. I doubt Agriculture Canada would allow it in, you don't have the $$ to bring it back and your Mom doesn't need another dog mouth to feed. Just adopt one for the time you're there and give it to some child/family when you leave.BTW, how it your Mango tree coming??