Notes from the Field 2008

States, Here I come!

My time in Zambia ends in less than 24 hours. My last week has been a whirlwind, trying to answers last minute questions, trying to say goodbye to everyone, and trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I am actually leaving. There are a few events that have occurred in my Week 5 and I would like to share them with you.

MY CROC BURGER EXTRAVAGANZA

Okay, so as soon as I read about crocodile burger at this reptile park, I knew it was destiny! Well, I just like to experience new things. So, Jason, Amanda and I headed to Kalimba Reptile Park where we saw these giant crocodiles, baby crocs, turtles, and snakes. I ate a croc burger, held a snake, put a turtle on my head, and had a python around my neck! We ended up running into Elizabeth (even across the ocean I still think it’s a small world!). Pictures are below.

MY MWEMBEZHI ANTENATAL PROGRAM VISIT

On Tuesday mornings, the Mwembezhi Rural Health Centre has a program for newly pregnant women. I was able to observe this program implementation this past week. Eight women showed up around 08:00hrs. Since they have come in to receive prenatal care, they fill out an Ante-Natal Card, which they will always bring to appointments. This card includes their logistics (name, age, weight, etc), obstetric history, records each ante-natal visit, and delivery information. After registration, there are specific steps in the program which are as follows:

1. HIV/AIDS education: HIV/AIDS education is given to all the women. Two leaders discuss the importance of HIV testing for pregnant women and safe motherhood. They urge the women to get tested so they can administer the proper precaution medicine during delivery. They also talk about family planning and breast-feeding.
2. Vitals: Women visit the nurse to have blood pressure tested
3. HIV Counseling: If the woman decides to have an HIV test (when I was there, 5/8 had testing done), she has her labs taken and will receive counseling. All five women who were tested were negative! I was jumping for joy =)
4. Exam: The nurse palpates the woman’s stomach to feel the baby (I did this and felt a baby’s head!). She then proceeds to listen to the heartbeat. However, in this rural clinic there is no ultrasound. Instead (bear with me- I don’t know how to describe it) it seems like this situation: You are one side of a wall and a conversation is occurring on the other side. Because you are being nosy, you attempt to listen with a cup (plastic? Paper? Styrofoam?) at your ear. However, when listening to the bellies, I was not using a cup; it was more like two ends of a trumpet put together- one circle at each end, connected by a skinny tube. Only about 6 inch long and smaller circumferences. I heard a baby’s heart beat with this thing!
5. Meds: These women get 4 types of pills while they are here at the first visit. The first, Fanlar, is an anti-malarial tablet. The second is Mebendozole which is a deworming tablet for the mother. The last two are folate and iron. Each woman gets thirty to sixty tablets (1 for each day) until they come back for a follow-up visit.

What I am looking forward to in the States:

My family and friends. I am used to talking to them every day and since I have been here, I feel out of the loop!!! My nieces and nephew (I missed Sam’s first walk by himself!), the late night phone call from my father, the heart-to-hearts with my mom, cribbage and cookouts, the Gpa update, homework sessions, Loring Park old school movies, happy hours, SPH potlucks, girls’ movie nights. My grade school chicas. I MISS EVERYBODY! xoxo

My second semester. In my first blog I said how happy I am to be in my program (Maternal and Child Health, concentrating in Health Disparities). And being here in Africa has reaffirmed my passion for community health, especially children’s. This semester the two courses I am looking forward to taking are Building Communities: Increasing the Health, Refugee Health, and Child and Adolescent Nutrition. I love school!

My apartment. And all of its vines covering the windows. And my clean fridge and new curtains (thanks Lloyd and Imee!).

Honestly, I am dying to have a McDonald’s sausage/egg biscuit breakfast. Especially the hashbrown. I know, public health, but what can I say?

What I am dreading missing in Zambia:

The children: their curled eyelashes, the strong hugs, the arms reaching out, the smiles, the singing, the 2.3 kg Baby Deborah, 4 year old Jennifer…

Everyday talks: I have been blessed to have such a great mentor here, Jason, who has taught me more than I ever thought possible in five weeks. Guiding me, providing answers to my questions, and questioning my thoughts, I could not have asked for a better field experience preceptor.

My walks from the bus stop: Whenever I took the bus and walked home (or walked anywhere), I would say hello and every person would say, “Hello, fine, and how are you?�? Everyone is so nice!

The food: Loved the Indian and Ethiopian food here. And of course, the nshima. Although, I do not think I could eat it every day! Zambia has gotten me back on track with my veggies and fruits because they are so cheap here!

The minibus boys: So once in awhile they can be pretty annoying when they rush to you, grabbing your arm or yelling “Where to, Madam?�? “Chelston? Avondale?�? BUT they do want me to ride their bus and rarely did they try to rip me off =)

The not-so-fast paced lifestyle: I am used to always going, going, going… but here, people are late. People are carefree. People are “whatever�?. In the states, not so much.

My Zambian family: Jason, Amanda, Dee, Dave, the HAC (Kent, Tom, and Dave), and the Alabama girls (Sullivan and Audrey) … thanks for everything. =)

Posted at 7:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

A good friend of mine sent me an email wondering about the prevention of HIV/AIDS here in Zambia. And I apologize because in all my stories I have not been clear as to what prevention is here. I have discussed some programs for orphans and AIDS victims, both care and treatment. After receiving this email, I freaked out- realizing that I only had one more week to view prevention programs. After discussing my fear and concern with Jason, I realized that the prevention had been right in front of my eyes in many of the programs. I wanted to share with you these prevention strategies.

IN THE CHURCH…
Zambia is a country where the pastors are the community leaders. Through church services and programs, education about HIV/AIDS can be taught and prevention programs can be implemented. Pastors may speak the Lord’s Word to encourage good decision-making. For instance, adultery is common here, becoming an easy means of spreading HIV. Therefore, sermons on the wrongs of committing adultery may be delivered. Providing programs to church members is also a means of prevention. During my congregation visits with the Humanitarian Aid Committee, I witnessed a literacy circle (which also incorporated tailoring clothes and blankets), a youth tailoring project, and chicken rearing. Providing opportunities for community members enhances their knowledge and brings joy and hope to their lives. Together they can earn an income, whether it is for themselves or for AIDS widows and orphans, and strengthen the community. These projects also get youth involved in something other than sex and alcohol.

Literacy Circle in Session (the dirt ground is the chalkboard)

Youth Tailoring Group

IN THE CLINICS…
Posters are hung on walls and on doors in clinics. At a clinic called Mwembezhi there are many posters reminding patients/caregivers of the importance of ART adherence and the use of malaria nets. One poster geared towards the youth was about the importance of abstaining from sex. These posters from this clinic are listed below.

Malaria Prevention

ARV Adherence

Virgin Pride Poster

In this same clinic, during the antenatal program, educators provide testimonies and facts to new mothers about mother-to-child transmission. I also visited Macha Clinic to find out about prevention programs. The medical director informed me that it was a private clinic and there were no programs available, however HIV testing can be done for 5,000 kwacha ($1.50). In 2006, there had been a large push by the Zambian government to accelerate prevention. The Ministry of Health declared June 20 as the National Voluntary Counseling and Testing Day in Zambia. Roughly fifty people per month come to Macha Clinic for an HIV test. And finally, at a program called Tiny Tim and Friends, there is a women’s group that meets weekly to discuss HIV/AIDS. One major topic is s the importance of Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT).

IN THE COMMUNITY…
Throughout Lusaka I see people wearing t-shirts with the AIDS ribbon logo. I see the giant walls that surround peoples’ property painted with the names of organizations willing to fight HIV/AIDS. Red ribbons appear on these walls and on billboards. As mentioned earlier, projects keep community members busy and close-knit. In that same morning, where I was freaking out about not “seeing� prevention, Jason pointed out a large sign painted on a wall, encouraging youth to join football (soccer).

Prevention in Soccer

In addition, the next day, I asked a few teenagers about school and community programs that discussed HIV/AIDS and other STIs. I was told about a youth program in the community of Kalingalinga, This program was help from 1500-1700 hours every Tuesday at the Man Jerad Education Centre. Trusted adults (usually teachers) would come in and teach about HIV/AIDS, other STIs, malaria, and cholera. They learn to prevent HIV/AIDS and other STIs by abstaining from sex or by using condoms if they chose to have sex. These condoms are available at the center. To prevent malaria, they are encouraged to buy mosquito nets (available for 15,000 kwacha or roughly US$4). All three of these boys told me they used nets at home. One boy stated that he loved to play soccer and sing, and the Jerad Education Centre gave him a place to express these likes. Again, keeping youth away from sex and alcohol.

Prevention occurs at every level- the newborns, the youth, and the adults. It is important to realize that prevention comes in many different shapes and forms. A variety of methods are needed to reach a large number of people. Many of the grassroot organizations seem to have an effect on the communities’ awareness and involvement in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Hope this helps clarify prevention here in Zambia a little bit!

Much love,
Debby

Posted at 8:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

… with Africa! And my life here. My week 4 was quite the adventurous trip. I decided to fly to Malawi last Friday (Aug 15). And since I am back, safe and sound, I can tell all of you I made the trip by myself (with the help of a few saints I met along the way). It was so wonderful. I enjoyed every second- yes, even when I was frustrated with the poor transportation system, deep down I was beyond happy. I will go over the highlights, and I hope you find them as wonderful as I do.

I left Friday afternoon from Lusaka airport. They have one departure gate (actually it is a waiting room). I was so confused because there are no signs about which flights would be boarding. I listened closely as I did not want to miss the boarding bus call. I was to sit in seat 1C, which is the very front, facing the back of the plane, allowing me to see everyone (weird!). Because I was not use to this, I thought “there must be some mistake!� and I moved to 10C. Wrong. I got kicked back up to the front, but back in row 10, I met a very helpful man who was also flying to the same place as me: Blantyre (in southern Malawi), so I was grateful I had been mistaken. He helped me with my bags, got me through customs with ease (although it is never very difficult here), and gave me a ride to my home for the next couple days. Blantyre is surrounded by three mountains and my new home had a beautiful view of one of them. I had originally planned on climbing, but I was not prepared (I didn’t even have hiking shoes), so I decided to head to a tea estate instead!

During the last half hour of my drive to Satemwa Estates, I was surrounded by fields of green. The massive amount of tea plants made it seem as if I was in Emerald City. Upon arrival, I received a brief history of tea and learned that there is over 1000 acres of tea plants on this one estate. I also learned the ins and outs of the process of making tea. I will give the steps below with some pictures, but if you really want to learn more about this, I can give a very detailed explanation (but will save it for a one-on-one basis).

Satemwa Estates Tea Factory, specializing in tasty tea!

1. Withering Trough (14-18hrs)- put the leaves in this trough to reduce moisture content. When you pick the leaves, you assume they are at 100% moisture. This needs to be reduced to 72%.
2. Cutting Machine (“Rolling Room�)- temperature over 30deg C, machine smashes leaves into tiny pieces, giving a product which they call: Dhool

Cutting Machine

3. Oxidization Process- reduce temperature and applying oxygen through tiny ducts. This turns the leaves from green to copper in color.
4. Dryers- to reduce the moisture content raise the temperature to 125-130deg C to stop the oxidizing process, and then drop the temp to 70-72deg C. A fluidization process takes place now, where a “force� (air from steam from a boiler) moves the leaves to a sorting machine.
5. Sorting Machine- separates the stalks and veins (fiber) from the leaves. YOU NOW HAVE BLACK TEA! You could purchase it at this point if desired.
6. Grader- A machine moves the black tea over a mesh screen. It separates the tea into three types: brokens (bold, large), fannings (leaf, medium), and dusts (powder, small).

The Grader

7. Package the tea!

During the wet season, there are more than 1,000 pickers in the field and they yield over 100’s of tons each day. I was happy to learn that to become a picker, you must be 18 years old. So no child labor. I hope he was telling the truth. I was able to taste-test about twenty teas (balck, green, white, oolong, and puu).

Taste Testing many kinds of teas

On Sunday I was able to catch a ride up north to Cape McClear, which sits on Lake Malawi (500km of clear blue water and sandy beaches). I ended up riding four hours in the back of a truck. There was no top, so I had the perfect view of my surroundings, including palm trees, huts, and Mozambique’s mountain range. I was in heaven. And I could not decide which hurt more: my bottom being bruised by the bed of the truck and the potholes in the road, my bottom when I jumped off a forty-foot cliff in Ecuador (nearly breaking my tailbone), or my cheeks from smiling so much. By the time I arrived at the lodge, my face was filthy and sunburned (except where my sunglasses had been- very attractive) and my hair was so knotted I thought I was going to have to chop it off. But a nice shower did the trick.

My ride to Cape McClear

In Cape McClear I sat on the beach gazing at the clear endless lake, conversed with the village children, observed a futbol match, watched the sunset (probably the most brilliant neon orange and pink sun I have seen setting), and learned about Malawian life. I took a boat to a nearby island (Thumbi Island West) with one of my local friends. We went snorkeling (the fish are tropical looking with neon blues, greens, yellows). I ate fish, rice, and vegetables, which had been cooked over an open fire.

The Beautiful Scenery

Getting ready to jump in and snorkel!

My delicious meal

The No Toilet sign on the island- pretty graphic!

I never wanted to leave Lake Malawi. I had been enjoying all the locals’ company. Everyone was so friendly. I watched a boy catch three small fish at the same time with just fishing line (they do not use poles). I chatted with a woman who was always washing dishes and clothes in the lake (but the lake still manages to stay clean and clear!). I listened to a boy’s love for school, but his need for a notebook and a pen. We danced at a local restaurant/bar, which seemed to be the popular hang out. I played pool with much smaller pool balls than those in America. I ate chips (French fries) and salad for breakfast. I woke up early to listen to the children getting ready for school near the lake. I knew after only two days that I wanted to return. In just two days, I learned about their families, their successes, their failures. I learned about their poverty, their illnesses, their hope for a brighter future. In just two days, I realized I wanted to be a part of that hope.

Boy Fishing

Many use the water for washing themselves, clothes, and dishes

Boys enjoying the canoes and water

My travels home were exciting and exhausting. It took me eight hours in the back of a pick-up truck to get from Cape MacClear to Salima. I was not even half way home to Zambia. I sat in this truck with about ten other passengers, three goats, and two spare tires. We ran out of gas once and the engine seemed to stall/die about ten times. Very eventful! I was happy to make it to a hostel. The next day (Wed Aug 20) I tried to make it home. (I really dislike traveling back home after an extremely great trip and the ride home seems to take FOREVER- which I should not have been surprised!) My first two bus trips went well and I thought I was making good time. I shared a minibus with a duck and a half-bus with a little chicken that basically sat on my lap. I crossed the border thinking I was home free! But I missed the last bus traveling from Chipata to Lusaka. By the time I made it back on Thursday mid-day, I was so grateful to see the gates to my Zambian home. Although, I am also grateful to have experienced the real traveling life in Africa and I met such amazing people on my way back through the two countries.

Wouldn't you be in love too?

Posted at 5:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

(My Week 3)

A fellow SPHer came to visit me! Elizabeth, who is staying in a village about an hour north of Lusaka, stayed with me for two days. First, I took her to Ambuya, where we read “Peter Pan� (with a translator) to the children and taught them “Jesus Loves the Little Children.� Both were a success! It was great sharing my experience with someone from back home. During the afternoon, we walked all over downtown Lusaka and the surrounding areas. We walked for miles just exploring the city. The main road, Cairo Rd. reminds me of an American city street- busy with people, many shops, post office, large bus stations, tall buildings. We went to the Town Centre Market on Cha Cha Cha Road. At this market, there are just rows of narrow walkways, lined with stalls selling tapes, DVDs, clothes. We wanted to eat a traditional meal, so we found a food stall that served nshima. For about 13,000 kwatcha ($4.00US), I ate a chicken leg, a whole fish, mealie meal, and veggies. The men eating next to us were having a giant t-bone steak. And even with something like this, it must be eaten as finger food. And they do not like to use napkins either! We headed to the National Museum to learn more about Zambian’s rich history, culture, and art. They have beautiful paintings and an extremely detailed explanation of Zambia’s gain of independence.

Elizabeth and I in Zambia together!

Elizabeth picking out her piece of chicken

My whole fish and veggies- YUM!

On Saturday (Aug 9) I rode on a minibus to Elizabeth’s village. She thought that Lusaka life was way too busy- two hours to travel by minibus, getting hassled on the street, etc compared to her village life. Some major differences between our Zambian homes: Elizabeth’s is rural, the electricity goes out everyday (sometimes twice!), they just got hot water, they do laundry by hand, Mine is urban (although it takes me 45 minutes via minibus to get downtown), electricity has only gone out only once while I have been here, hot showers, washer and dryer. I live rather unrealistic compared to how many Zambians live. At her village, I saw three-day old kittens, heard the children praising the Lord, and ate lots of spaghetti and Elizabeth’s and Kate’s famous scones. =)

My projects are going well. The week of Aug 10-14 was my last week of working with the children at Ambuya. Because they had already took their end of term exams, I spent time doing activities with them. We continued learning “Jesus Loves the Little Children� and each day I would read another story. One lesson was on the world. We went over the seven continents, four oceans, and even colored a map of the world! By the end of the week, they mastered the song. Every morning, as I entered the schoolyard, the children would come running and yelling “Anti! Anti!� (Children here call women caretakers “Anti� and men caretakers “Uncle�). And then even without me telling them, they start singing the song. Their favorite line is “Red, Yellow, Black, and White.� I think it because they can bolt out the colors. They are just awesome.

They love wearing my sunglasses!

At the House of Moses, I was there when two little babies were brought in. They were less than two weeks old, had both been independently abandoned at the University Teaching Hospital, and were in need of names. With one being a girl, I immediately said, “Debby!� The coordinator’s daughter was Debby as well, so she immediately approved and the little girl was named Deborah. I was overjoyed. I just know she will be placed with a wonderful loving family and grow up to be strong, courageous, and compassionate. I know all of these children will. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. And to all those who have asked me to give many hugs to all the children, I have. Countless hugs and kisses. I will miss all of them greatly when I leave. Each and every child I have met, held, smiled at, has touched my heart in such a special way.

Posted at 5:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Hello again all of you fantastic blog readers. I come bearing stories about my adventures this past week.

We left Lusaka at 6:30am Saturday morning (Aug 4). Our first destination was Chipata. From the time we left Lusaka to the time we arrived, we had been on the road and in the jeep for nearly eleven hours. And this was no easy task as we were riding sideways and driving on the bumpiest roads ever! Along the way, we stopped at St. Barnabas church in Misolo, where two boreholes had been placed. Here I had my first real Zambian meal!! The women of the village made nshima for us. This meal consists of cooked ground up maize (aka Mealie Meal), veggies (usually cabbage, spinach, and tomatoes). You use your right hand to roll the maize into a ball, scoop the veggies with it, pop it into your mouth, and walah, you have tried nshima. It was very delicious, although very messy!

Me helping the women stir the Mealie Meal!

For the first time in Africa, I saw children with extended stomachs. Their eyes were yellow and their tummies stuck out of their shirts. Seeing this right in front of my eyes broke my heart. Just like many things here. It is/has been an emotional roller coaster. Its mountains and valleys, highs and lows. I see beauty everywhere- in the people, in the land. But I also see severe poverty and sickness. My mind has a difficult time grasping the world over here and my heart has a difficult time coping with the sights before me.

Hardworking women

Malnourished child

Beauty of Africa: the Baobob Tree, the "Tree of Life"

Children praising God after church

For the past two weeks, I have realized that the Zambian women are the hardest working people. I have been watching women and children carry so much on their backs, on their heads, and in their hands. One girl who was about seven was carrying a baby on her back and two large buckets of water. Many times this is what the scene looks like- women hard at work (cooking, sweeping, carrying necessities) and the majority of adult men are off at the bars or just sitting around town. Alcohol is a major problem in Zambia- in both the urban and rural areas. When the HAC team, Jason, and I were at one church, I decided to walk around the village. Of course, I had my own little tour guides- about twenty of the village children- so I saw every house, every garden, every person. Then I saw the strangest contraption. The two men managing it told me it makes a special liquor that will “get you very very drunk.� Later I learned from Jason that the type of liquor they were making Kachasu, which happens to be illegal here. One investigation of this homemade liquor found traces of bleach, formaldehyde, and battery acid. No wonder it's illegal.

The crazy contraption, The mixture boils in the pot on the right. The steam comes up into the tire and creates a new liquid, which then gets drained into the bottle on the left.

Me with baby in village (and the baby just happened to be peeing on me- look at my pants!)

After a night’s stay in Chipata, we left for Mwufe, where the South Luangwa National Park resides and where we camped at Croc Valley. I was feeling adventurous (and cheap) so I stayed in a tent with the wandering elephants and hippos. I had pitched my tent under a grass veranda, as the owner told me this would be safer than in the open. I woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of breaking branches and loud munching. I peeked out my tent and sure enough I had an elephant coming straight for our camp area! And when he was coming towards the tree that my tent was under, I must admit, my heart began beating faster and my eyes were wide open! He was about ten feet away from me and he tore down a large branch from the tree above me. And then along comes a hippo on the other side of my tent. Needless to say, I did not sleep much this first night. But it was worth it. Those staying in actual rooms were definitely missing out! The next day, our safaris began. We did both a morning and an evening one. Both were amazing. I saw impalas, pukus, crocs, warthogs, lions, zebras, giraffes, a hyena, storks, water and bush bucks, cape buffaloes, hippos, fish eagle (Zambia’s national bird), baboons, a genet, a cavit, porcupines, and two lionesses! It was awesome. I was just amazed by everything around me: The zebra baby nursing from its mother, the towering necks of the giraffes, the destructive nature of the elephants (they must have killed at least half the trees in this park), the albino baboon riding on his mother’s back, hippos playing in the water, the proud strut of the lions.

Zebra mom and baby

A family of elephants

My projects here in Zambia are going very well. I have spent much time visiting the HAC’s (Dave, Tom, and Kent) project sites. Not only do I see this committee’s projects, but I also get a chance to visit many villages. I have seen roughly eight different villages throughout the Eastern and Southern Provinces. Many of the villagers are welcoming. The children are slightly timid at first (especially the infants), but if you pull out your camera, they will instantly love you! They love it when you take their picture and love it even more when you show them the digital screen. It was a blessing that the HAC was here at the same time I was. I have learned so much about missionary work. I see the HAC working in two ways. First, they spread the Word of God when community and congregation members are involved with one of their projects, whether it be using the borehole, coming together to sew, or raising chickens to support widows and orphans. Second, they show the love of Jesus through their compassion to improve the health and well being of congregations and communities.

I have been going to Ambuja Day Care Centre to work with the children there. In my last blog, I was unsure about the details of this program and so I want to share with you more about this Centre. Ambuya (which means “Grandparent�) is a program that began in 2002 and is for orphans who are HIV+. Many times, when the parents die of AIDS or other diseases, the grandmother becomes the new caretaker, hence the name Ambuya. As mentioned before, these children come every day to the Centre to receive schooling, health care, and food. In addition, the Centre works with guardians of the children. They are taught about the care these children need, the stigma of HIV/AIDS and the importance of ARV drug adherence. The children here have hearts so full of love and joy and eyes so full with hope, which are reasons why I love working with children. Even though they struggle with HIV and the loss of their parents, they are still upbeat and optimistic. Often times we can forget that children can be our role models too.

The children at Ambuya and I

Other notes (the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly):

A movie here costs 12,000 Kwatcha, which is about $3.50. Large popcorn and a soda costs roughly $4 at the show.

The two hardest things to find in Zambia: 1) a cup of coffee and 2) a usable bathroom (seriously, the “latrine� did not even have a hole! Only a dirt floor and a very, very shallow trough were present).

There is so much litter here. Attempts have been made to spread awareness about keeping Zambia clean, but the message is not very well accepted.

Attempt to stop the littering

....

Much love,
Debby

Posted at 7:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Ma uka bwanji (Good morning) or Ma choma bwanji (Good afternoon or evening)!

Well, after a grueling long travel expedition last Wednesday and Thursday (30+ hours!), I finally made it on Zambian soil. I am sorry that it has taken so long to write. As soon as I arrived I began observations and experiencing the life in Lusaka, so I was pretty worn out for a bit! But I’m back to my energetic self and ready to blog. So hold on tight, it’s quite an adventure here in Africa.

I want to start by introducing my Zambian family. We have a great amount of family time, so it seems appropriate. I am staying with Jason (to refresh your memory, he is my preceptor and also the director of the Lutheran Health and Development Program) and his wife Amanda (she is a Registered Dietician). My guesthouse mates are Sullivan and Audrey, who are both undergrads studying nutrition and they work with Amanda. There are two missionaries, Dave and Dee, who are my next door neighbors and make great grilled BBQ chicken =) And finally, the Humanitarian Aid Committee (HAC) from WELS (Wisconsin Evangelistic Lutheran Senad) is here looking at many projects that they have funded. You will see pictures of them (Dave, Tom, and Kent) and their projects as I have been traveling with them all over Zambia to see the villages and churches they have helped.

I have seen so much here already, I am not sure where to begin with stories, scenery, and projects. Perhaps, I will start by giving a description of what I have seen and learned in both Lusaka and the villages (which they call "the bush").

1. Public transportation is the blue mini-bus. It is about the size of a minivan, but here we at least cram 14-16 people in it. Sometimes, a trip can take 30min or 2 hours; it depends on traffic and on the “money� boy (the one who recruits new riders and sometimes gets carried away by waiting 10 minutes at one stop in case someone else might come by who needs a ride).

2. The speed limit is 120 km, which is 72 mph. And let me tell you, the way the roads are – narrow and either dirt, sand, or filled with potholes, the speed limit should not be that fast. I have gotten use to riding in an African-specific Toyota. I sit in the back of a jeep- sideways. After a 7 hour ride like this (and on the roads) I realized I like sitting forward much better =)

3. When looking out the jeep’s window or walking through a village, there is so much to take in. Women carry large loads of fruits, veggies, maize (corn), or grass on their heads and they walk for miles. I do not know how they endure this. Fires are constantly burning in the fields and on the hills. These are controlled fires used to keep the vermin away. With it being the dry season here, having even a controlled fire seems dangerous! Also, there are often a few obstructions in the road, which consist of cattle, chickens, and goats. Fences seem rather non-existent! Stoplights here are very mini- they are only about half the height of the stoplights in the US.

4. Gas is about $8.25 per gallon. And we Americans have been complaining! One of the most impoverished countries and their gas is double that of one of the wealthiest.

5. The most common vegetable people grow in their garden is rape (I think it is like a bitter tasting spinach, but I have not tried it yet!)

Some pictures:

Compound of Kamanga

Outside St. Peter

In Choma

Many of the projects I have seen include: boreholes (deep wells for clean water), literacy circles, tailoring, and chicken rearing. These are all projects sponsored by the HAC and are completed at the Lutheran churches throughout Zambia. The congregation gains a lot from these projects, as it brings in money. Many times, a congregation will try to figure out the biggest problems in their community. It often begins with illiteracy. Therefore, the LHDP trains a couple community members to become facilitators of the literacy circles. Once members become literate, major problems can be addressed. See the HAC projects below.

Chicken Rearing project at Malembo Onse. This project is for the widows and orphans in this congregation.

A Borehole at a Lutheran congregation in Choma. Look how happy she is!

The Tailoring Program at St. Peter's in Kamanga (a village in Lusaka)

I have also volunteered at the House of Moses. This is an orphanage for infants age newborn-1½ years. One room houses the newborns-6mo, while the other room has the older babies. Babies are here for mainly two reasons: their mother has died at childbirth or of AIDS or there is no one who can financially support the baby. Hence, this place can be depressing. There are roughly 30 babies total. Each one gets their own crib, except for the really little ones, who will share with one or two other little ones. There is only one nurse and three caregivers for both rooms per shift. I have cuddled and fed the babies. One has even peed on me! They are so adorable. If they do not get adopted at the House of Moses, they are moved to another orphanage that houses older children.

Yesterday I went to Ambuye, which is part of the organization Tiny Tim and Friends. Ambuye has a day care for children who are HIV+. These children are six years or older and go to day care from 730-1530 (they use military time here!). During day care, they receive breakfast and lunch, take classes like Math, English, Social Studies, and Music, and go to a clinic once a week for their anti-retroviral medicine. When I went in yesterday, they were singing and dancing. There are also beds for them to nap on. However, this place is not an orphanage where the children stay over night. Instead, they go back to their families or guardians. This program is to make sure the children receive schooling, food, and anti-retroviral drugs. This is one program I hope to work with on a daily basis.

Over this past weekend (Sunday, July 27), Jason, the HAC team, and I went to the city of Livingstone. This is about seven hours southwest of Lusaka. There were so many potholes in the road; I probably flew off of the seat at least a million times! We saw many villages off of the road. People were walking with babies on their backs, selling fruits and veggies (especially tomatoes and bananas!), and riding bikes and carrying a bag of charcoal. When the children saw our jeep approaching, they would throw a shovel of sand into a pothole- like they were fixing it for us- and then they would hold out there hand for money.

Livingstone is the home to the infamous Victoria Falls, which lies in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Sunday evening when we arrived, we went on a sunset boat ride down the Zambezi River, where I saw two elephants, hippos, and a crocodile. The elephant amazed me. Even though I have seen an elephant on TV and in a circus, this was different. It seemed so peaceful and graceful (even with its size) in the wild. In terms of Victoria Falls, words really can’t describe what I saw. It was breathtaking. In the movie, “The Bucket List� Carter states that he wishes to witness something majestic. He is referring to the Himalayas. On Monday morning, I witnessed something majestic.

Victoria Falls, Livingstone

Me in the Zambezi River, right before it goes into the gorge!

My upcoming agenda consists of going to Ambuye, Mother Theresa’s Hospice, and Our Ladies Hospice tomorrow. My transportation is the mini-bus and my guide is the literacy circle trainee, Alisad. On Saturday morning, Jason, the HAC, and I leave for Misolo to see more HAC projects and for Mfuwe to see the wild animals of Africa. We are going to the South Luangwa NP, which has been known to be one of the best game parks in Zambia and all of Africa. I will be camping in a tent, probably right next to a lion or a rhino! Just kidding, but I will be in the park with all the animals and I am psyched! I will be returning to Lusaka on Wednesday.

xoxo

Posted at 8:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (21)

Hello! With this being my first blog I will just be giving an intro of myself, along with my project information, and a few shout-outs at the end!

My name is Debby Caselton and I am heading off to Zambia very soon (less than 24 hours! July 23, 7:05am)! I will be there for 5 weeks. I just finished my first year of the MPH program, where I am focusing on Maternal and Child Health and Health Disparities. I could not be happier in this field. =)

This past semester I became interested in advocating for AIDS orphans. I took a course called Advocacy and Children’s Rights and my portfolio focused on AIDS orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa. Not Fun Facts:
• There are nearly 22.5 million people living with HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa and about 12 million orphans here
• In Zambia the adult infection rate is between 15-20%
• Children who are orphaned lack economic and food security, experience severe poverty and psychological distress, and are less likely to attend school
• In addition to HIV/AIDS, diarrheal disease, malaria, and TB plague communities as well

In Zambia, I will be looking at organizations that provide education, care, and basic needs to men, women, and children. My Objectives:

1) Observe the program implementation of the Lutheran Health and Development Program throughout Zambia in various sites in Lusaka, the Eastern Province, and the Southern Province
2) Observe the evaluation process completed by international stakeholders at various project sites
3) Observe the differences between community- and government-based organizations, specifically how they differ in their public health care and education delivery system
4) Assist community-based agencies in educating families on nutritional and health issues and in reducing the infant and child mortality rate via medical and educational services

Timeline:
July 26-Aug 6: I will be traveling throughout Zambia to five villages where the Lutheran Health and Development Program (LHDP) implements projects. I will be accompanying Jason Paltzar (who is the LHDP’s Health Program Director, my preceptor and a former SPH student) and the US funders of LHDP’s projects.

Aug 7-Aug 28: I will be in Lusaka, Zambia. I will be observing and working with program coordinators and staff members from various organizations, including LHDP, House of Moses, Tiny Tim and Friends, Bwafano, and the National HIV/AIDS council.

Shout Outs (aka BIG THANK YOUS!):

1. My mother owns a quilt store in Menominee, MI called Quilter’s Haven Ltd. When I asked Jason if there was anything that the LHDP needed, he said aprons and carrying bags for the community health care workers. Of course, I immediately thought of my mom and her quilting friends! So, for two weeks a group called “The Piecemakers� came into my mom’s shop and made many bags and aprons for me to take over to Zambia. The newspaper was contacted and below is their article from the paper (click on it to see it enlarged). Thank you ladies!

2. My friend has given me reading and coloring books to give to children in Zambia. =) Thank you Stephers for your generosity!

3. A frequent customer of my mother’s shop heard about my trip. She wrote me a letter and included some money. One of the bills was a five-dollar bill with a red dot on it. She wrote that she had taken her grandchildren to a Bible camp and at the end of the week each person was given a five-dollar bill with the instructions to use it in some way that it would multiply itself. She gave it to me and wrote, “I am giving you this bill marked with a red dot (so we would not mistake it for another) because I know you will make this stretch much further with what you are about to embark on than anywhere else I could possibly send it.� Thank you so much Carol!

Again, thank you everyone for your time and talent, your thoughtfulness, your generosity, and your desire to help others. It is greatly appreciated! And thank you to my family, friends, professors, and LHDP for your support as I begin this incredible journey!

Posted at 3:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)