The Sum of 6 Weeks

 The blog is up, at last!  Most of you know that mass communication is not my “thing,” so please still humor me with some personal emails. 

It is a beautiful Monday in Swaziland.  Spring has come and has brought a string of very unpredictable weather, but today it is sunny and feels like it is 70 degrees F.  So far my study has generated a lot of interest, which has afforded me the opportunity to network and be involved in a number of diverse activities.  This morning I sat in on a meeting at the WHO office on palliative care.  Since roughly 50% of Swazi’s are living with HIV, there is a lot of emphasis on the need for care giving with this chronic illness.  So we really need to be looking at those care givers and how they are coping… which is where I come in!

But let me jump back and give you an idea of what I’ve been up to.  Here’s my list:

In August I spent 2 and a half days in Johannesburg on the way to Swaziland at the South African Anxiety and Depression Group’s office.  They did the study on Home Based Care Givers in South Africa that gave me the idea for my study in Swaziland.  I was able to travel to a township and visit a counseling center they recently set up in a trailer to support the needs of the township.  We also went to a nearby school and met with the principal to organize a training on mental health among teachers and to set up a support group at the school.  I also spent time in the office gathering materials including Speaking Books on various topics.  Speaking Books were designed to help people with low literacy “read” the book, and are such a wonderful tool!  While at the office I also listened in on the mental health support counseling line, and had dinner with the executive director.

The first couple of weeks in Swaziland were spent meeting with Simon Khumalo (my Red Cross contact), Denise Mortlock (Mental Health Support Group Leader), attending my host Rotary club meetings, and setting up meetings with the Red Cross Director and my supervisors and the University of Swaziland.  I also ran around getting my immigration documents in order, getting my student ID, and visiting Mambane (my Peace Corps community). 

August 10^th I attended an in-service training at the Manzini Psychiatric Hospital on Bipolar Disorder and met one of the two psychiatrists in all of Swaziland.  August 26-28^th I attended the Rudasa Rural Health in Southern Africa Conference.  This conference was held in Swaziland for the first time this year.  I really enjoyed this conference because it gave me a good indicator of what’s been done in Swaziland since I was last here in 2007 and also what has been successful in other countries.  Task-shifting was one of the major issues that was discussed to help with the human resources issue.  This year the first Physician’s Assistant program was established in South Africa, and there is talk of developing a medical school in Swaziland.

In August I also started my service work.  I have chosen to volunteer at the Baylor clinic in their teen club.  Teen Club is a support group for HIV+ children aged 10-18.  The Teen Club in Mbabane has over 150 children participating.   Check out their website at: http://bayloraids.org/programs/swaziland/adolescent.php.  The Baylor Clinic specializes in pediatric HIV and is the only center of it’s kind in Swaziland.  They have several satellite clinics and also provide training for nurses and doctors in the care and treatment of HIV in children.  The Baylor doctors facilitated my Peace Corps technical training in HIV and I have a lot of respect for their work in Swaziland.

In September I attended Umhlanga, which is the largest festival in Swaziland.  Also called the Reed Dance, young girls (they are supposed to be virgins) participate in this week-long ceremony which culminates on the last day with a dance for the King (where the King has the option of choosing a wife).  Do not worry- I did not participate in the ceremony- I only watched, so I was NOT chosen J

I have also met with my supervisors at uniswa (the University of Swaziland), the Red Cross, and the national coordinator for the RHM program to go over my surveys.  I’ve been over my demographic questionnaire so many times that I don’t ever want to look at it again!  However, a lot of great recommendations have come from these meetings and I am really pleased with the changes that were made.  I have also made arrangements to get the surveys translated, which should be done by this weekend.  The next steps are to present the research project to the ethics committee at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on September 24^th.  We have also decided to expand the research and survey 1,000 participants!  I am going to hire 10 research assistants who will collect the data at 10 research sites (one site per day and each re

SiSwati classes should start up either this week or next.  I have arranged to join in a class at the international high school that will go until December.  Then in January I will get a private tutor, as I will be too advanced for the existing classes.  My comprehension has improved, but I’ve been slacking on speaking siSwati since most people automatically speak to me in English in the capital. 

Rotary:

I’ve attended 5 meetings and been to two clubs (will attend a third tonight) and joined (as an honorary member) the Rotaract club.  The Mbabane-Mbuluzi Rotaract organized a retreat for their club plus the Manzini and Uniswa clubs to foster more fellowship in the clubs and help retain members.  I attended this 3 day retreat at Mlawula, a nature reserve in the northeast of Swaziland.  There were about 26 Swazis and me!  It was a great way to meet Swazis my age, build friendships, practice siSwati, and learn more about the Rotaract clubs.  Rotaract is for young adults under 30, so it is a perfect way for me to connect with like-minded Swazis.  Besides that, I really needed to let my hair down and have some fun, after weeks of meetings and first impressions. 

            Last week I spoke at my host club and it went very well.  I really enjoy the club because it is pretty casual, small, and I have gotten to know some of the members well already.  Most of them are appalled that I don’t have a car and am using public transportation, and so have been very generous with rides.  They have also taken me to the Mbabane Club, which has been fun!  My host counselor is a professor at the university and teaches literature.  We’ve bonded over discussions of African Literature, and if I have enough time, I plan to audit her African Literature course next semester.  She was also instrumental in the acquisition of my student ID, which took 2 days of running around. 

            So, things are going quite well.  I feel so overwhelmed with how cool this opportunity is, and how connected I’ve gotten since my arrival.  Know that I think of you often and hope you are well. 

            Sahle Kahle (Stay Well)

            -Carrie/Jabulile