These past few days have been filled with rain. But here that is a blessing. Just got Annie set up here so that she can start posting things herself. We tried to put up a few of her writings, but they were saved in the wrong format, so I will try to get them up here in the next few days.
We had a braai yesterday and invited a bunch of friends over- Christa, Charlotte, their kids, my friends Solomon and Nace from when I studied here, Marybeth who is from the states but had lived here for 2 years and setting up this soccer program for over 500 kids, and many other including the girls from holland that are also staying where we are at. It was a pleasant time and we had JUST enough food. These past few days have been a little more calmer so that has been nice and being able to relax is a treat. It being independence day here yesterday there were many celebrations troughout windhoek, one inlcuding a big ceremony at the stadium, which i hear was jammed packed full with people even though it was raining on and off all day. I have tried to reflect, even though i am not Namibian, what it means for them to have 17 years of independence and if at all things have gotten better over the years. In some respects they have, in others they haven't. Its hard to be optomistic when the gov spends its money on 15 nerw mercedes and a huge state house for the president- which if you think about it, the wall that protects it (I hear parts of it are made of gold), could build 20 mt. sinai's over and over. The president here, ive heard a few say, is trying to fight corruption, but it still exists nonetheless and the problem is how do we change that?
I met Marybeth last night and she is an amazing woman. She brought up a really good point that makes me think and think. She talked about how many people rely on handouts from organization- international, national and local- so what results in this is that they are become apathetic to their situation as well as their government. So what wouldh appen if we took those handouts away. If we took all those grass roots organizations, a lot of which as NGO's, away that support these people... They would have to do something, they would have to demand change from their government.... they would not be so quick to forget that their government must help them... that they too deserve the right to the same things that gov. officials have access to. What a day that would be... So how can we get the people to realize that things must be different- that they can't live in these conditions forever and they too deserve access to food, water and shelter that is clean, affordable and nutritious. I guess we can only wait and see....
So that is it for now. I am going to try to get annie's posts up tonight for everyone.
dare I say that 60 degrees is now cold???
later,
mary
Our Mission
African Community Health Inititiave (ACHI)
Provide basic health care services to those lacking access to such care in both rural Nigeria and urban Namibia.
These services include:
*Overall Physicals (including Fasting Glucose levels, Vitals, HIV/AIDS testing etc..)
*Medication Management and Maintenance programs *Disease Management
*Health Education that addresses disease prevention, hygiene and nutrition
*Consultations and referrals
Mount Sinai
A program started by Katutura State Hospital Nurse Christa Biart-Vega, who works in the ARV (antiretroviral) pediatric clinic, Mount Sinai provides HIV counseling, health education, well baby checks, formula, water and sippy cups for 105 babies and their HIV+ mothers. If the child is tested HIV- after 6 weeks of being breastfed, the hospital or clinic refers them to Christa. At this point it is important to discontinue breastfeeding: replacing breast milk with formula means that the baby will remain HIV-. Unfortunately, due to the lack of funds Christa has to limit the number of mothers and babies in her program because it is a commitment to feed each child for six months. Christa did receive land in Katutura for the clinic, but lacks the funds to begin building. Not only will this building be used to continue the program that Christa has started, she also envisions it as a safe place for moms and their children, as well as a hospice for children with AIDS to peacefully die in instead of out on the streets. Your donations will go towards formula, sippy cups, water and overall costs. More money means more women can enroll in the program and with your help Nurse Christa will finally be able to have a building to go along with her amazing, life saving program!
Family Hope Sanctuary
FHS is a community based program run by Abigail Maposa located in the extremely poor settlements of Hakahana. FHS’s program helps in two ways: first, to empower women, most of whom are HIV+, TB, single mothers who are raising orphans; and second, through its school readiness program. This program reaches children who are not in the school system and provides them with an education and a safe place to stay. More importantly, the heart of FHS is its kitchen: it feeds hundreds of children each day, which for most is the only meal they will get that day. Lacking the most basic necessities of life, all of these kids are grateful for such a meal, and are in dire need of a formal education before it is too late. Your donations will go towards education, food, clothes, shoes, water and other necessities. Amazingly, $20 sends a child to school for a whole year (books and uniforms included)!
Thursday, March 22, 2007
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