Wednesday 31 October 2012

First solo trip to Freedom compound yesterday to supervise the 'adherence supporters, the volunteer good neighbours who undertake to visit 'their' patients regularly, usually weekely or twice a month depending on need.  
The supporter I was supervising yesterday was Bertha, a non-English speaking woman of generous girth and smiles.  The 'Zone leader', who organises and checks on this charitable outreach, came round with us and translated for me when needed.  I could understand a lot of what was going on by reading Bertha's body language, tone of voice and expression.  She left the stool she had been given to sit on and sat down on the mat, close to her patients and spoke directly and gently.  She listened empathically to her patient, checked on her adherence to her medication, checked the storage (tricky in a tiny hut - needs to be off the ground away from kids, creatures and the awaited rains yet hung in a plastic (local name for a carrier bag) under the roof sometimes becomes unsuitably hot for the efficacy of the ARVs (anti retro viral drugs) which should be stored, as most meds, below 30 degrees,
I found the experience hot and tiring, of course, but overlaid with the urge to try and do what little I can by visiting these people, showing them respect and honouring their dignity.  
I have Margaret's mobile number and will be planning the next trip to supervise another supporter;   so far I have met David, Alice and Cecilia as well as Bertha.  David plays electric bass at Sunday Mass and has excellent English- maybe Margaret might get a rest on his day?

Monday 29 October 2012

Long gap, no posts but now my clever IT consultant (thanks, pet) has found the correct url and so I've put that on facebook and should be back in business.  Next stretch, adding photos- have put some on my facebook page but will try my hand at here too.
Settling in here, finding what's needed job-wise and surviving the heat, a typical October pre-rains which could start anytime soon.
A mammoth shopping trip to Manda Hill to sort out 'essentials' like a lead to connect my camera to the laptop- without which no photos.  Phoenix photographic found one, attached to a card-reader which I'm sure has many uses including reading the camera card directly (why would you take it out of the camera? probably virus control but I can rely on AVG to do that.  This shopping trip was epic; we took 2 buses to Manda  Hill and managed to transport our heavy bags back on buses too, with the help of one of the security guards at the mall who pushed all our goods to the bus-stop in a shopping trolley, saving the 150,000 kwacha taxi fare  (about £20; for reference, the bus fare was 20,000 both ways for the 2 of us)
Small accomplishments in the greater scheme of things but important to us for our survival and thriving.
We have an excellent fruit stall outside the hospice gates: sweet oranges and apples and stubby cucumbers for 1,000 each and small, sweet bananas "500, one" ie 500 each. Today, I fancied a cabbage as we are short on green veg and the Zambian cooking style isn't my taste.  I like the onion and tomato but not the large amount of cooking oil involved.  The only size available was HUGE so my digestive health should be excellent when I finish it in a fortnight or so- probably be sick of it by then.
I helped out at the Guardian Angels Community School run on the Mother of Mercy Hospice site for the orphans and disadvantaged children, affected or infected with HIV/Aids.  Class of 60- did some sentences with then, conjunctions and tenses- the noise was phenomenal and I'm not sure whether any learning took place.  A grand time was had by all.