Dear Everyone,
Happy Mother’s Day to all you Mother’s! Hope your day was great!
I have not updated my blog in awhile...so this is a long message, but fills you in on everything up to date.
I arrived back in Kampala on April 28th and stayed there until May 4th when the PC drove me back to Iceme, Uganda. I really am so happy to be back and so glad I did not have to take the public transportation! I have been welcomed back with great enthusiasm by the Lango people. When you are gone for a while they have a saying that, “You were Lost.” Sometimes I feel that way. But I am getting back into the swing of things here after cleaning 2 inches of dirt from inside my home. With windows that don’t close all the way and open vents to the outside above the windows in my place, whenever there is dirt and dust flying around...it comes in and takes over!
Anyway, last week was busy. The Health Center worked with Health Alert and we had 80 people mobilized. It was great, I was able to counsel them on HIV/AIDS and then they got tested for HIV and along with another staff member I gave them their results. The next day I went with the Samaritan Health for Outreach in Aloni for HIV counseling and testing, the following day it was done at Iceme Subcounty. Uganda has a 6.4% prevalence rate for HIV and Northern Uganda is at 9%. When we did our HIV testing the first day 6% of the people were HIV positive and 5% the next day.
I still work with my counterpart on Immunizations both here at the center and Outreach. I start my HIV support group on the 18th and the War Victims group on the 26th. Iceme Secondary Girls School starts on the 23rd so I will start 2 nights/week teaching 60 girls each night Basic Life Skills. I am still working with other PCV’s on a Boy’s Camp, a Girl’s Camp and in Northern Uganda we are working on a Peace Camp for war victims. I also will continue to go on Outreach to the villages to follow up with patients that were admitted and also to do teaching and counseling.
I still have some secondary projects that I would like to work with and that is to bring more livestock to Northern Uganda. I need to meet with the Local Council 3 of Iceme and the Farmers Chairperson to fill out a proposal to submit to the Heifer International. I also want to write a grant for a computer, printer, internet airtime and a copier for the Health Center. There work would be so much more efficient and productive if they had computers. Then I will teach them computer skills. So I think I will have a full plate and will let you know how things progress.
When I was in SA I brought a projector to use with my HT Classes and the Basic Skills Class, but I also had planned to use it to show animated cartoon movies to the children at Iceme. Well, it has been GREAT! We have had many movie nights and they are so happy watching them. It really has been a highlight for me to watch their faces! The first week that I got back I was digging and making my garden. You see it is rainy season here now, so planting is a must if you want to eat! So you will see a picture of me gardening....don’t laugh...it really is hard work out there in the sun!
In the meantime, let me tell you alittle about South Africa and what I did! Previously, I told you about the Ukutula Lion’s Reserve, which I loved and was able to hold and feed Lion cubs. I also went to Pilanesberg National Park, the Elephant Sanctuary, Groenkloof National Reserve, Freedom Park in Pretoria and the Apartheid Museum in Jo’Burg. You may have seen the pictures already on my facebook.
The Pilanesberg Safari has all the Big Five of South Africa, which are the lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopards. These animals were so named because they are said to be the most dangerous especially when hunted. Of them, the buffalo is said to be the most dangerous since he can slow his heart rate and you think he is dying but in the meantime, he is circling around to get you. We did not get to see all the Big Five because it rained and some of the roads were closed in the park. But the animals that we did see were: wildobeast sometimes called gnu, gazelle, antelope herd including the tsessesebe (fastest antelope in SA) and the hartabeast, kudu, elephant’s including an elephant they call “Steroid” who tips cars. We also saw giraffes, impalas (nicknamed McDonalds since they are seen everywhere and have a big M on their rear end), wart hogs, black back jackel, ostrich, New Guinea fowl, spring buck (distinctive white face & belly), eland (largest antelope in SA), water buck (white circle on their rear end), zebras, and baboons. We were told by the park ranger that we had just missed seeing the leopard.
The Elephant sanctuary was a unique experience of touching, feeding, walking and being kissed by a magnificent African elephant! You can see my kiss and the elephant actually sucks your entire half face when kissed!
Groenkloof National Reserve was a walk though nature. We were lucky enough to see and have a family of Zebra’s come up close to us while we were in the bush. You will also see them on facebook.
Freedom Park in Pretoria is a memorial to what South African’s have achieved as a nation. It serves as a beacon to guide a route of hope and patriotism to a proud united nation. It was built due to the necessity for the diverse people of South Africa and the world to understand and appreciate the country’s struggle for liberation. Freedom Park was born as a national and international icon of humanity and freedom. It is a South African tale in the voice of the South African people, using their unique culture, heritage, history and spirituality. It tells of the events that shaped their people and why they are who they are today. It really is a breathe taking park that gives honour with dignity to those who endured pain so that now people can experience the joy of freedom. It is designed with spiral paths, peaceful places, Walls of Names, Amphitheater, Sanctuary, Eternal Flame, Gallery of Leaders, Reeds, President’s Tree, Moshate (high-level hospitality suite used for presidential and diplomatic functions), Lesaka and boulders (symbolic resting place for the spirits of those who played a part in the struggles for humanity and freedom in SA), Lekgotla (semi-circular seating structure built around an Umlahlankosi tree), Water Points (cleansing and healing in many belief systems) and the Umlahlankosi trees. The Umlahlankosi trees symbolize one of the mediums through which the spirits of South African’s fallen heroes and heroines have been brought to Isivivane, a sacred space and spiritual resting place.
Apartheid Museum in Jo’Burg was also fascinating and a bonus was an exhibition celebrating the life of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. The Apartheid Museum is an award winning and internationally acclaimed museum. It is the journey and recounts the political upheavals beginning in the last century and moves on to the transition from a racist state. The Apartheid Museum brochure reads, “The path through the museum leads you on a journey beginning with segregation, the cornerstone of apartheid. It takes you back through the history of the myriad cultures converging during the pre-apartheid era. Through the years of race classification, the 150 acts of apartheid, detentions and the oppression of the nationalist regime. You will examine the rise of black consciousness, the armed struggle and finally witness the release of Nelson Mandela after 27 years of imprisonment which led to the final negotiations for peace.”
So I was very fortunate to be able to visit and experience some of the wealth and knowledge of South Africa during my stay. I have put pictures on facebook because it is too long to upload images onto Blog.
During my time in SA, Uganda PCV were put on Standfast and once when I got back to Uganda in Kampala. This was due to the riots in Kampala and all of us that were in Kampala at the time where picked up by the PC and taken to the PC Office, we stayed there all day. I am sure you have all heard this on the news. Just want to let you know that I am safe, but this is what they say is happening.
Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye has been allegedly placed under house arrest after heavily-armed security officers surrounded his compound and prevented him from going to work or out to buy home essential items. He was blocked by police.
Besigye’s wife was blocked by police officers while going to the Entebbe International Airport, she was returning to work. She works with the UN in New York and was on her way back to duty. Her car was towed to the police station.
Kizza Besigye has been leading anti-government peaceful protests by a "walk to work" that urge people to leave their cars at home on Monday and Thursday’s to highlight soaring fuel and food prices. Fuel now in Uganda is 3300 USH, which is about $1.50 USDs/gallon. That is alot for Ugandans.
The protests in the Uganda have been met with opposition from the police. Anne Mugisha, Deputy Foreign Secretary of Besigye’s Forum for Democratic Change party (FDC) stated, "We consider Besigye under house arrest." According to the Reuter, “Anticipating another protest, a heavy contingent of police blocked the road to Besigye's house on Monday. However, Besigye had decided not to walk due to a ‘heavy flu.’ The protests started slowly but were boosted three weeks ago by the brutality of Besigye's fourth arrest since they began. His car was attacked by plainclothes men who smashed the windows with a gun and a hammer, doused him with pepper spray and hauled him onto a pick-up truck.
Riots erupted in Kampala and two other towns the following day as Besigye flew to Nairobi for treatment to eye injuries sustained from the pepper spray. At least nine unarmed people were shot dead by military police during the riots, according to Human Rights Watch.”
I found out that last week researchers announced that people with HIV can reduce the risk of infecting THEIR sex partners by more than 90 per cent if they start treatment with antiretroviral drugs when their immune system is still relatively healthy. The results were released early because of the significance of the findings. The research confirmed a belief held by many scientists and physicians — that starting drug therapy early can help to limit rates of transmission of the virus that causes Aids. This is great news for Ugandans....however, we do not even have the antiretroviral drugs to give to the very sick HIV/AIDS patients and that is a tragedy! There just is NO ARV drugs.
You may remember me telling you that my Supervisor, Sr. Gertrude was reassigned to a Hospital in Luwero. We got a message from the US Embassy stating, “May 14, 2011, the Uganda Ministry of Health confirmed that a 12-year-old girl who died on May 6 at Bombo Military Hospital, Luwero District (one hour north of Kampala) was infected with the Ebola virus. The Ministry of Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and international partners are investigating the case to determine the extent of the outbreak and if additional cases are present. As of now, there are no additional cases.”
This weekend we had the 100th celebration of the Catholic Faith, it was brought to Northern Uganda by the Camboni Fathers in Sudan. The faith has gotten very strong in Northern Uganda and there are over 4 million people out of 7 million in Uganda that are Catholic. But it was 100 years this year in the North, so the ArchDiocese of Gulu and the Diocese of Lira celebrated! President Museveni came to the ceremony and gave a speech and donated 10 million schillings to the Church. So you can imagine...yes the security was real tight! My camera was taken any from me so there are no pictures of President Museveni, but after he left I got some.
After 6 months, I just realized that I am still in PCU!!! At WLA VA I was in the Progressive Care Unit, always referred to as PCU. Now, I am in the Peace Corp Uganda also referred to as PCU. So everytime I see PCU, I think of the VA in LA.
All in all my recovery from gallbladder surgery was a relaxing, healing, fun time! I am all healed and now back in the bush! So I will keep you posted.
Stay safe and take care!
Love & Light,
Mari
