MAMBO!
(Hi! How are things?)
This is the first time I've accessed internet since last Sunday! (I must have set some new personal record...) So, it was an extraordinarily long, tiresome journey, extended by countless hours resting in airport lounges after long, sleepless nights in the sky. To put things into perspective, we departed Sunday night and arrived Tuesday morning! After traveling on three flights, from Toronto to London; London to Dar-es-Salaam; and Dar to Mwanza, I can FINALLY exclaim, "we are here"!
WELCOME TO MWANZA: THE CITY OF ROCKS!
We arrived at the Mwanza airport Tuesday morning and were warmly greeted by Mama Joyce and Esther in their Western T-shirts and signs proclaiming "OLIVIA and STEPHANIE" (we were worried we wouldn't be able to find them in the hustle and bustle of the airport, but they were unmistakable!). It's been a few days now and we've gotten settled into the apartment and spent a lot of time resting in attempt to adjust to the new time-zone. I think it's going to take me a while longer to recover from my jet-lag; I've found myself falling asleep at 6:30 pm and waking up at 5:30 am the first couple nights! But, I'm not complaining because I've gotten to see the breath-taking sun-rises above the rooftops just outside my window! (and ohh the most radiant, flushed of skylines…)
SHAKING THE JETLAG:
For the first couple of days we were taking taxis everywhere, with our trusty driver Puis, who works for Kivulini. He's been a great help for us to get around and about in our new, unfamiliar surroundings. But, today and yesterday we have mainly been walking, and I'm starting to get a feel for the whereabouts of places around Mwanza (It may be the second largest city in Tanzania, but it seems pretty small by my standards. I like to think by the end of the month I’ll have a pretty strong sense of the city and its faces). I've noticed that the city truely never sleeps and the streets are always brimming with people. Steph and I were sitting on our balcony doing some reading this morning, while secretly I was just people-watcing. (Oh the crazy things on the streets that are so ordinary here, but so unusual to me! A truck with a big set of booming speakers and a DJ drove by at 10 am; Women carrying everything and anything on-top of their heads; Children running off to class for the day in big bunches, all dressed up in the same uniforms…)
MEET N’ GREET WITH YOGURT MAMAS:
-We visited the yogurt kitchen in Mabatini for the first time yesterday and were introduced to the yogurt mamas (or at least 9 of 10 of them, because one is sick right now and out of the kitchen)! They seemed receptive and enthused about our research plans to work with Moringa. They know it is being used now to help the immune systems of people with HIV/AIDS (they call it a “medicine” here). We got to taste the yogurt the mamas had produced: It was a little sour and a little lumpy in texture, but cold and delicious on a hot day.
-A vote was held and new positions were assigned!
-Plans were discussed to increase distribution by selling at the local market
FOOD AND DRINK:
-We also had the opportunity to buy some fresh produce at the daily market! Esther let us in on the bartering-ways of the markers and we set off to pick up loads of fruits and veggies (Amazing fresh pineapple and mango, dripping with sweet juices…drooling just thinking about it!) We also got the chance to go grocery shopping, but will likely be avoiding these places in the future, as “Americanized” foods are far more expensive here than at home! (I paid about 9 bucks just for cereal!)
-Yesterday we had an amazing woman from Kivulini cook us a Tanzanian-style meal of rice and talapia fish fried up, served with a tomato and vegetable sauce!
-I’ve noticed a big Indian influence on cuisine here. There’s lots of Indian food offered at Talapia.
-We’ve been boiling all of our water from the tap, then using purification drops, and THEN running it through a filter! So, it should be good enough to drink now!
-There’s an unreal amount of soda! And an overwhelming number of Coca-cola, Sprite, Fanta advertisements everywhere (entire sides of buildings painted with the COKE sign for example)! Also- there’s pineapple and passion-fruit Fanta here- sooo tasty!!
LANGUAGE:
-Knowing your greetings in Swahili goes a long way! "Mambo! Habari!" (Hi! How are you!), Then you can say "Nzuri!" (Good!) as a response to pretty much anything, if you don't understand. When greeting elders, like the mamas, we say "Shikamoo!" to be respectful and then they reply "Marahaba!"
-I’m making an effort to smile at every stranger who meets me eye and I’m saying Mambo! Habari! (Hi! How are you!) to everyone I see on the streets!
-Some people point and wave and shout out, “Mazungo! Mazungo!” To me this essentially means, “Hey look there’s a funny looking white person!” I’m often not sure if they’re laughing at us or if they’re just curious about us because they don’t see as many tourists in the area.
PEOPLE:
-There are women and men carrying things on their heads everywhere! I know it’s stereotypical, but I can't get enough pictures; their balancing-act is amazing! Baskets full of fruits like bananas, or baskets full of peanuts are pretty typical. But we even witnessed a man carrying a tall stack of mattresses!!
CHILDREN:
-The children here are so adorable and lovable and I just want to cuddle them all. Lots of them are a little shy, but if you shoot them a smile, they will smile back at you and greet you, but they don't like to be photographed. Others are more outgoing and approachable and ask if they can be photographed (I am more than happy to!).
-I’ve seen children as young as five carrying babies on their backs!
RELIGION:
-We've seen a few Mosques around town due to a large proportion of the population being Muslim (Islam is more prevalent in Tanzania than in surrounding countries in East Africa).
SHOPPING:
-There are an overwhelming number of vendors on the streets: offering shoes, clothing, electronics, tools etc. (often all crammed into a little closet-sized space). You name it, and there will be multiple shops on a single street that can service your needs! (often several carrying exactly the same things!) There seems to be an overwhelming amount of shoes for sale, and I notice people scrubbing sneakers and shining black dress-shoes to get them ready for sale. There are also plenty of people sifting through large piles of clothing to be put up for sale.
CLOTHING:
-The women all wear brilliantly colored kangas (basically long pieces of fabric wrapped around themselves) or long skirts and dresses of many different patterns. I’ve been trying to fit in by wearing skirts/dresses instead of pants. I picked out some fabric from a store in town and I’m getting a dress and bag sewn at the tailor downstairs from our apartment!
-We see children commuting to and from classes in their school uniforms, and they look so sharp! The boys in khaki pants or shorts and white shirts, while the girls sport white blouses and long turquoise skirts and knee-high socks.
TRANSPORTATION:
-The taxis are indistinguishable from regular cars. I’ve noted a common white-color scheme, but there’s no signs! We’re lucky to have Puis to drive us because often taxi drivers will rip off unsuspecting Westerners. Their mind-set: “Ohhh they have lots of money, so we can charge them double!” Also, at nighttime, it’s nice to be sure you have a reliable driver to get you home safely.
-There are lots of Dala-dalas (kind of like a large van-cab, that transports people like a bus to various locations). They only cost 250 Tsh (the equivalent to 25 cents), so they're much cheaper than taking a taxi. They’re always packed and stuffy- and sweatiness comes along with that, naturally!
AFRICAN TRIBES:
-There are lots of tribes in East Africa, including the Maasai (who live in Northern Tanzania and Kenya). I’ve been able to spot a few in Mwanza because their look is very different from the typical Tanzanian. They dress in long, colorful sheets (often striped in deep blue and burgundy hues) wrapped around their bodies, they have pierced ears and often stretched earlobes, and they wear lots of beaded, hand-woven jewelry. And for some reason, to me, they always look much taller and lankier than most, and often carry wooden walking sticks.
FLORA AND FAUNA:
-There are a lot of animals scattered around- like a goat in the street this morning, and roosters crowing at all hours of the day(not saving it for the break of dawn…), or little ducklings floating down the nearby stream…
-There are also some really nice tropical flowered trees, and lots of palm trees of course!
-Nothing too exotic yet, but there’ll be plenty of time for spotting “The Big Five” on a weekend Safari…
CITY SKYLINES AND LANDSCAPES:
-First-off, it's sunny and hot here everyday. We were told we are entering the rainy season, but that the skies usually only open up in the evening for a short period of time.
-Mwanza is called the City of Rocks for a reason! The naturally occurring rock structures here are astonishing!
-Lake Victoria (The biggest fresh-water source in all of Africa) is magnificent. Sitting at Talapia Hotel and overlooking the sun setting over the lake is awe-inspiring.
THE “WESTERNERS”:
-At hotels like Talapia, lots of Westerners assemble here for drinks and chats. Lots of people are here for developmental and volunteering reasons, working at orphanages or hospitals, but some are just here passing through while traveling. I met a guy from France today (his name escapes me now) who has spent the past couple months traveling through Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. He was looking for a couple of “whities” (as he called Westerners) to join him and his friend on a camping/Safari trip to Serengeti National Park (to split the costs of the car/campsite). Unfortunately, they want to leave in a few days and Steph and I can’t join in…but it’s definitely on my list of places to go and things to do! Interesting guy for sure though, he says he teaches scuba diving lessons for a living…another thing on my list is scuba diving or snorkeling off of the coast of Zanzibar!
..................................................................................
USIKU MWEMA!
(Goodnight!)
Right now, I’m sitting at a table, lake-side at the Talapia Hotel (it’s right on Lake Victoria). Lots of Westerners lounging around here, which is something I haven’t seen for a while! We have access to free wireless internet here and some great food, so it’s going to be THE place to come write up my blog posts!
We’ve met up with Joke here and gotten the chance to introduce ourselves to her and some of her Tanzanian friends! (Joke is the Dutch doctor whom we will be helping out with clinical trials!)
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Importance of HIV/AIDS Awareness
“Stigma and discrimination associated with AIDS delays treatment and care for HIV-positive people, and prevents people coming forward for testing."
"Realization of Human Rights and fundamental freedoms for all is essential to reduce vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. Respect for the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS drives an effective response." -Declaration of Commitment adopted at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, June 2001
Stigma related to HIV/AIDS has unfortunately become a great barrier to HIV treatment and prevention in the developing world. The stigma surrounding HIV makes people much more skeptical to reveal their status, and it also makes it difficult to manage the spread of the pandemic. People can be so afraid of being stigmatized that they are unwilling to admit they have the disease; therefore, they cannot take the steps necessary to overcome it. People often refuse to be tested so they do not have to reveal their status to anyone. Some might try to hide the fact that they are receiving treatment, or inconsistently consume medication, or just refuse treatment entirely. Many HIV + people refuse to use preventative methods that avoid further infections, such as using condoms, in fear that partners/others will assume they have the disease.
Stigma can lead to many challenges in developing countries. People who are discriminated against because of HIV/AIDS are often shunned from their communities. They can lose their jobs, be kicked out of school, and/or be abandoned by their partners and their families. HIV/AIDS is often negatively associated with prostitution, drug-use, and promiscuity, so societies may look at the disease as punishment for these sorts of behavior.
Without ever-increasing public awareness about how HIV is transmitted and how it can be managed, the epidemic will continue to spiral out of control. When the facts of HIV/AIDS are openly discussed within groups of people in communities, cities, nations,and on a global scale, all people can understand the facts and this can dramatically reduce its stigma.
"Realization of Human Rights and fundamental freedoms for all is essential to reduce vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. Respect for the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS drives an effective response." -Declaration of Commitment adopted at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, June 2001
Stigma related to HIV/AIDS has unfortunately become a great barrier to HIV treatment and prevention in the developing world. The stigma surrounding HIV makes people much more skeptical to reveal their status, and it also makes it difficult to manage the spread of the pandemic. People can be so afraid of being stigmatized that they are unwilling to admit they have the disease; therefore, they cannot take the steps necessary to overcome it. People often refuse to be tested so they do not have to reveal their status to anyone. Some might try to hide the fact that they are receiving treatment, or inconsistently consume medication, or just refuse treatment entirely. Many HIV + people refuse to use preventative methods that avoid further infections, such as using condoms, in fear that partners/others will assume they have the disease.
Stigma can lead to many challenges in developing countries. People who are discriminated against because of HIV/AIDS are often shunned from their communities. They can lose their jobs, be kicked out of school, and/or be abandoned by their partners and their families. HIV/AIDS is often negatively associated with prostitution, drug-use, and promiscuity, so societies may look at the disease as punishment for these sorts of behavior.
Without ever-increasing public awareness about how HIV is transmitted and how it can be managed, the epidemic will continue to spiral out of control. When the facts of HIV/AIDS are openly discussed within groups of people in communities, cities, nations,and on a global scale, all people can understand the facts and this can dramatically reduce its stigma.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Outline of Major Research Endeavors
Part of my internship includes doing some scientific research at NIMRI, the National Institute of Medical Research in Mwanza, Tanzania. I am being overseen by my academic supervisor, Dr. Gregor Reid, who specializes in research on probiotics and is a professor of Microbiology and Immunology. I have been meeting at Lawson Research Institute over the past couple of weeks working in the lab and learning about making media, growing bacteria on selective plates, performing quadrant streaking, and doing dilution series to plate a small quantity of the bacteria so colonies can be counted easily (basically all this work to assess the number of bacteria in a sample)!
Dr. Joke's Clinical Trial:
I will have the opportunity to help out with a 30-day trial with 150 HIV+ women. Of these, 75 will be receiving probiotic yogurt and the other 75 receiving unsupplemented yogurt. The trial is being led/overseen by Dr. Joke, a Dutch Doctor presently working in Tanzania. She is hoping to take blood-spots and vaginal samples at day 0 and day 30, as well as filling in questionnaires on the demographics and health history etc. of the women. The blood-spots will be analyzed for viral load and the vaginal samples will be analyzed for Nugent scoring (a Gram strain scoring to test for bacterial vaginosis) and using a microarray and tested for STIs. Some of the analyzing of samples will be done in the Netherlands, but some will be done locally at NIMRI in Mwanza. A Tanzanian doctor and a Nurse in Sekou-Toure will be responsible for acquiring the patients for the study, and a nurse in the hospital will be helping with the vaginal samples and questionnaires. It sounds like an amazing opportunity to observe the positive health benefits that the probiotics confer to patients!
The "Moringa Project":
1. This lab research will explore the potential of adding a micronutrient source to further enhance the yogurt. We will be looking into the use of adding Moringa, an exceptionally nutritional vegetable that grows locally. We want to discover whether the Moringa will affect the viability of the probiotic strains and also how it effects the sensory qualities of the yogurt (ie. taste, texture, appearance).
2. In addition, we're looking into ways to carry probiotic strains in other fermented foods, such as a fermented porridge! This might be easier and cheaper source of probiotics and micronutrient because it would not require cows and refrigeration for the milk.
(The Moringa may be able to be used in the yogurt and the porridge to enhance nutritional value if the research indicates positive results!)
P.S. There will be two Dutch medical students joining us in Mwanza in March or April to work on the same project. I'm thrilled to have the chance to work alongside some really knowledgeable people and to have the potential to publish a scientific article. It's always amazing when things I'm learning at school can really be put to use in "the real world".
Dr. Joke's Clinical Trial:
I will have the opportunity to help out with a 30-day trial with 150 HIV+ women. Of these, 75 will be receiving probiotic yogurt and the other 75 receiving unsupplemented yogurt. The trial is being led/overseen by Dr. Joke, a Dutch Doctor presently working in Tanzania. She is hoping to take blood-spots and vaginal samples at day 0 and day 30, as well as filling in questionnaires on the demographics and health history etc. of the women. The blood-spots will be analyzed for viral load and the vaginal samples will be analyzed for Nugent scoring (a Gram strain scoring to test for bacterial vaginosis) and using a microarray and tested for STIs. Some of the analyzing of samples will be done in the Netherlands, but some will be done locally at NIMRI in Mwanza. A Tanzanian doctor and a Nurse in Sekou-Toure will be responsible for acquiring the patients for the study, and a nurse in the hospital will be helping with the vaginal samples and questionnaires. It sounds like an amazing opportunity to observe the positive health benefits that the probiotics confer to patients!
The "Moringa Project":
1. This lab research will explore the potential of adding a micronutrient source to further enhance the yogurt. We will be looking into the use of adding Moringa, an exceptionally nutritional vegetable that grows locally. We want to discover whether the Moringa will affect the viability of the probiotic strains and also how it effects the sensory qualities of the yogurt (ie. taste, texture, appearance).
2. In addition, we're looking into ways to carry probiotic strains in other fermented foods, such as a fermented porridge! This might be easier and cheaper source of probiotics and micronutrient because it would not require cows and refrigeration for the milk.
(The Moringa may be able to be used in the yogurt and the porridge to enhance nutritional value if the research indicates positive results!)
P.S. There will be two Dutch medical students joining us in Mwanza in March or April to work on the same project. I'm thrilled to have the chance to work alongside some really knowledgeable people and to have the potential to publish a scientific article. It's always amazing when things I'm learning at school can really be put to use in "the real world".
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Women and Girls: Disproportionately Vulnerable to HIV/AIDS
While doing a little background reading before I leave, I read Stephen Lewis' Race Against Time. In one of his lectures, he discusses how in sub-Saharan Africa, women represent 60% of the people living with the virus. We have still been unable to overcome the disproportionate vulnerability of women to the virus. Not only is the prevalence of HIV infection highest among women and girls, but they also take on the responsibilities for caring for the sick and the orphaned, ontop of providing food and childcare for their own households. Very little seems to have been done to "protect them from sexual aggression and violence, ease their burdens or support their coping and caring efforts". There is a need for urgent action to respond to the pandemic's effects on women and girls; for these people, day-to-day is seen as a matter of life or death. There are countless millions with a death sentence hanging over their heads because of HIV/AIDS infections and poverty!
There is a constant struggle for women's human rights in Africa. As far as I can see, the governments in Africa have done very poorly in the protection of women's rights. The inequality between women and men is obscene and unjust! However, there are some non-governmental organizations that are struggling and putting up a fight for the status of women in their communities.
Kivulini Women’s Rights Organization
Kivulini Women’s Rights Organization is a registered Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) founded in 1999 based in Mwanza, Tanzania. Kivulini’s mission is to work with the community to advocate for women’s rights. Kivulini is intensifying its efforts on mobilizing communities to prevent domestic violence against women. This vision of creating violence free communities is linked with women’s economic empowerment to reduce dependency and contribute to family income. When a woman is aware of her rights in the community and is economically independent, she does not only improve her health and socio-economic position, but is also able to contribute more fully to the development of her community as a whole. Kivulini program efforts are contributing to The National Strategy for Economic Growth and Reduction of Poverty (MKUKUTA). Overall, Kivulini aims to break women in Mwanza from circle of poverty, violence and abuse.
For the past 7 years, Kivulini, in collaboration with the University of Western Ontario, has designed a project on production of probiotic yogurt that has started providing a new source of income for women in Mwanza, while contributing to the general health of children and adults. The Tanzanian National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR – Mwanza), is supporting the project.
Tukwamuane Women’s Group (TWG)
Tukwamuane is Swahili for "women working together to eliminate poverty". Twelve women ("Yogurt Mamas") from the Mwanza community formed this group to act as the main producers and distributors of the probiotic yogurt. Since WHE’s inauguration, Western's student interns have worked alongside these women to help develop the project further. Some of the mamas have studied business processes (Accounting, Financing etc.) through Kivulini and take care of the project records and profits from the yogurt.
After various stages of development and planning, the TWG is now liscenced as Non-Governmental Organization in Tanzania. They have come a long way since WHE began working with them in 2004. These hard-working women continue to provide inspiration and economic support for the local community. They have recieved a lot of attention from the Canadian and Tanzanian governments and were officially recognized by the Tanzanian government with an award for AIDS intervention work on Tanzanian Independence Day (December 9, 2008). The Tukwamuane Women's Group truly embodies the empowerment of women, which is vital to the continued development of communities devastated by AIDS and povery.
There is a constant struggle for women's human rights in Africa. As far as I can see, the governments in Africa have done very poorly in the protection of women's rights. The inequality between women and men is obscene and unjust! However, there are some non-governmental organizations that are struggling and putting up a fight for the status of women in their communities.
Kivulini Women’s Rights Organization
Kivulini Women’s Rights Organization is a registered Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) founded in 1999 based in Mwanza, Tanzania. Kivulini’s mission is to work with the community to advocate for women’s rights. Kivulini is intensifying its efforts on mobilizing communities to prevent domestic violence against women. This vision of creating violence free communities is linked with women’s economic empowerment to reduce dependency and contribute to family income. When a woman is aware of her rights in the community and is economically independent, she does not only improve her health and socio-economic position, but is also able to contribute more fully to the development of her community as a whole. Kivulini program efforts are contributing to The National Strategy for Economic Growth and Reduction of Poverty (MKUKUTA). Overall, Kivulini aims to break women in Mwanza from circle of poverty, violence and abuse.
For the past 7 years, Kivulini, in collaboration with the University of Western Ontario, has designed a project on production of probiotic yogurt that has started providing a new source of income for women in Mwanza, while contributing to the general health of children and adults. The Tanzanian National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR – Mwanza), is supporting the project.
Tukwamuane Women’s Group (TWG)
Tukwamuane is Swahili for "women working together to eliminate poverty". Twelve women ("Yogurt Mamas") from the Mwanza community formed this group to act as the main producers and distributors of the probiotic yogurt. Since WHE’s inauguration, Western's student interns have worked alongside these women to help develop the project further. Some of the mamas have studied business processes (Accounting, Financing etc.) through Kivulini and take care of the project records and profits from the yogurt.
After various stages of development and planning, the TWG is now liscenced as Non-Governmental Organization in Tanzania. They have come a long way since WHE began working with them in 2004. These hard-working women continue to provide inspiration and economic support for the local community. They have recieved a lot of attention from the Canadian and Tanzanian governments and were officially recognized by the Tanzanian government with an award for AIDS intervention work on Tanzanian Independence Day (December 9, 2008). The Tukwamuane Women's Group truly embodies the empowerment of women, which is vital to the continued development of communities devastated by AIDS and povery.
Objectives
My objectives/learning goals (that I hope to accomplish over the four months!):
1) Support the transfer of technology to other women's groups. Support applications for capital start-up and subsidizing for the poor and people living with AIDS (PLWAs).
The TWG is focusing on marketing and advertising the probiotic yogurt to the larger Mwanza community and to the rest of Tanzania. TWG is interested in training other Women's Groups to form a network to spread the word about probiotics and their related health benefits. Currently, TWG is partnered with Isenga Women's Group and the Nyamhongor Women's Group. Eventually, the project would like to expand to contain several micro-operations of women's groups in the communities to lift them out of poverty, empower them economically, and expand the yogurt production. We would like to assist the yogurt mamas in training "junior mamas" to help out with the project when the "senior mamas" are ill. (and to ultimately one day inherit and run the project themselves).
2) Work with the Tukwamuane Women's Group (TWG) to establish and monitor a routine to ensure the presence of active probiotics in the yogurt each week.
This will be for academic credit, overseen by Dr. Reid (at UWO) and the National Institute of Medical Research (in Mwanza).
In order to have the yogurt sold to grocery stores, restaurants, and schools within the community, the quality of the yogurt must be controlled (texture and taste, included). We would also like to overcome the large barrier of packaging and labeling on the packaging.
3) Review and support a sustainable business plan with the TWG to sell the yogurt for profit and strengthen them financially.
There is presently a "master business plan" that needs to be put in place. As of May 2008, 44% of yogurt was being sold, 45% was distributed for free, and 11% was sold as milk. We would like to increase milk purchases and increase sales!!
4) Develop cross-cultural communication skills and work on Kiswahili (Swahili) language skills. Explore TWG interest in continued development of their English language skills.
An Overview of Steph's objectives (the other WHE intern I am traveling with, who is in her third year of the Foods and Nutrition Program):
1) To build positive, trusting relationships with a group of individuals in Tanzania, and explore their daily food intakes and food supply.
2) To collaborate with the Tukwamuane Women’s Group (TWG) to provide community education about the heath benefits of probiotic yoghurt.
3) To promote awareness and support neighbouring communities to establish a probiotic yoghurt community kitchen.
4) To work alongside the TWG and key stakeholders in Tanzania to minimize communications barriers with project stakeholders in Canada.
1) Support the transfer of technology to other women's groups. Support applications for capital start-up and subsidizing for the poor and people living with AIDS (PLWAs).
The TWG is focusing on marketing and advertising the probiotic yogurt to the larger Mwanza community and to the rest of Tanzania. TWG is interested in training other Women's Groups to form a network to spread the word about probiotics and their related health benefits. Currently, TWG is partnered with Isenga Women's Group and the Nyamhongor Women's Group. Eventually, the project would like to expand to contain several micro-operations of women's groups in the communities to lift them out of poverty, empower them economically, and expand the yogurt production. We would like to assist the yogurt mamas in training "junior mamas" to help out with the project when the "senior mamas" are ill. (and to ultimately one day inherit and run the project themselves).
2) Work with the Tukwamuane Women's Group (TWG) to establish and monitor a routine to ensure the presence of active probiotics in the yogurt each week.
This will be for academic credit, overseen by Dr. Reid (at UWO) and the National Institute of Medical Research (in Mwanza).
In order to have the yogurt sold to grocery stores, restaurants, and schools within the community, the quality of the yogurt must be controlled (texture and taste, included). We would also like to overcome the large barrier of packaging and labeling on the packaging.
3) Review and support a sustainable business plan with the TWG to sell the yogurt for profit and strengthen them financially.
There is presently a "master business plan" that needs to be put in place. As of May 2008, 44% of yogurt was being sold, 45% was distributed for free, and 11% was sold as milk. We would like to increase milk purchases and increase sales!!
4) Develop cross-cultural communication skills and work on Kiswahili (Swahili) language skills. Explore TWG interest in continued development of their English language skills.
An Overview of Steph's objectives (the other WHE intern I am traveling with, who is in her third year of the Foods and Nutrition Program):
1) To build positive, trusting relationships with a group of individuals in Tanzania, and explore their daily food intakes and food supply.
2) To collaborate with the Tukwamuane Women’s Group (TWG) to provide community education about the heath benefits of probiotic yoghurt.
3) To promote awareness and support neighbouring communities to establish a probiotic yoghurt community kitchen.
4) To work alongside the TWG and key stakeholders in Tanzania to minimize communications barriers with project stakeholders in Canada.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Pre-Departure Notes
This blog will be used to document my time in Eastern Africa as an intern with "Western Heads East" (WHE). I discovered the project during "Volunteer Week" at in the University Community Center at Western back in September of this year. A poster board caught my eye and I spoke with a past intern who had just returned from Oyugis, Kenya. I was eager to join the Fundraising and Education Committee and attended meetings to learn more about the project and help out with various events held on campus. These events, like the Amazing Race, the Code Red concert, Yoga for Yogurt etc, raise funds for the yogurt production and educate the Western Community about the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa. I also got a chance to help out at a booth to raise awareness for the Give A Day to World AIDS campaign for WHE. This initiative was conceived by Dr. Jane Philpott who has challenged colleagues to donate one day's pay on December 1st, World AIDS Day.
History of WHE Interns
1) The first site was initiated in Mwanza, Tanzania and has become the regional headquarters of the project. This past summer, WHE interns Ashley Motran, Jon Giles, and Missy Whaling traveled to Mwanza to support the project by volunteering their expertise to different aspects of the project.
2) The second site was established in Oyugis, Kenya this past summer. Interns Rani Suleman, Jennifer Eldridge and Amanda Armstrong traveled to Oyugis to start up the probiotic yoghurt project and to train the Orande Women's Group on how to run the kitchen sustainably.
3) A third site will soon be established in Kigali, Rwanda. Interns Nilmi Senaratna, Silvia Marroqu, and Helen Aawaii worked there this past summer, exploring the readiness for the yogurt project to begin.
4) We hope to do an exploratory visit to Uganda in the upcoming year of 2011.
Along with, Stephanie Varriano, I will be traveling to Mwanza, Tanzania and Kigali, Rwanda this semester to continue the project's goals and purposes. I will mainly be stationed in Mwanza, Tanzania, at least for the first couple of months, and then will be treveling to Rwanda to link ideas with the interns there. My hope is that this blog will be a useful place to record my activities performed in the communities each day. These posts will outline main goals, overall accomplishments, bonds that have been made with individuals, and daily progress. I hope to enlighten, inspire, and spread awareness about the HIV/AIDS crisis.
I know it's difficult to always feel that our world is in a state of emergency when our day-to-day lives are often so sheltered and we can so easily "carry on business as usual". I know am going to be witnessing first-hand poverty and devastation and I know I am going to feel guilty for all that I possess, both objects and opportunities. But I also know that we, as a rich and developed nation, have the money,the technology, and the HOPE to find a cure! I'm really hoping that in these next five months I will gain some valuable perspectives for my career path. When I return home, I hope to continue educating myself and the Western community (and hopefully eventually the global community!) about the conditions in Africa and assisting with the fundraising campaign to fight HIV/AIDS.
It hurts me to report that as each day passes, thousands are dying from AIDS-related illnesses that are both preventable and treatable by use of antiretroviral medication. I can feel it, we are so close to beating this, but how many casualties will have suffered in the meantime?
Devastating Facts/Statistics:
-AIDS is one of the primary causes of global mortality and remains the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa.
-There are 33 million people living with HIV, and 22 million in sub-Saharan Africa alone.
-Nearly 90% of all HIV-positive children live in sub-Saharan Africa.
-Last year, 1.5 million people died due to AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa alone.
-It is estimated that since the beginning of the epidemic more than 15 million Africans have died from AIDS.
Some Background Information on the WHE project:
In 2004, Stephen Lewis made an inspiring presentation for the Ontario Association of College and University Housing Officers hosted by the University of Western Ontario's Housing Department. His heart-rending speech moved a group of staff, students, and faculty to initiate a response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa. Western Heads East (WHE) was created to launch a probiotic yogurt project in Africa. WHE works alongside Lawson Health Research Institute, Brescia University College, Kivulini Women's Rights Organization, and the National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR). Student Interns have been sent to assist the Tukwamuane Women's Group (TWG) in the sustainability of the project. The TWG is a group of women, otherwise known as "Yogurt Mamas", who sell the yogurt to people in the community. WHE subsidizes the costs for the yogurt production and giving some of the yogurt to people living with AIDS (PLAs) for free. This way, WHE strives to empower the local women of the communities by providing them an opportunity to make a sustainable income, while at the same time increasing the quality of life for people affected by HIV/AIDS. The TWG has become a non-governmental organization (NGO) and the women have become leaders in their community and represent the driving force behind the entire project.
The project mission statement:
To engage staff, students, faculty, and the broader community in teaching, research, and service targeting the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa. This will raise awareness and funds to support the exchange of learning experiences while making a sustainable difference to communities in Africa.
The goal of the Western Heads East project:
To establish disease-fighting probiotic yogurt programs in Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. (Research on the healthy bacteria found in the yogurt are known to kill pathogenic bacteria and viruses)
Some Background Information on the Probiotic Yogurt:
Let's start with the basics: Yogurt is basically milk that has been naturally fermented by adding bacteria. These bacteria mostly all die in the stomach when we eat the yogurt. The benefit of yogurt is that it is highly nutritious- containing vitamins, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates!
Probiotics are different because they are live bacteria that survive in the stomach and can confer health benefits on the host (individual). WHE developed a probiotic yogurt based on the research of Dr. Gregor Reid (Lawson Health Research Institute) and Dr. Sharareh Hekmat (Brescia University College). Dr. Reid developed the bacterial strain (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1) used for Fiti, WHE's probiotic yogurt. Research has proven that yogurt containing probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 can increase the immune system response in people living with HIV/AIDS (by increasing CD4 count), decrease morbidity from diarrhoeal disease (which affects nearly 90% of untreated HIV+ people), prevent bacterial vaginosis (a common infection that increases a woman's susceptibility to HIV and other sexually trasmitted infections), and reduce transmission of HIV/AIDS during childbirth.
The yogurt is NOT a substitute for antiretroviral treatment or a cure for HIV/AIDS, however it provides nutrition that is required for the drugs to work to their greatest potential and helps alleviate some side effects of HIV/AIDS. HIV researchers have known since the early days of the pandemic that HIV can wreak havoc on the gut, which is home to an abundance of CD4 cells. Nutrient deficiencies are also a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in Africa, and the probiotic yogurt contains nutrients and microbes that aid in a healthy and nutrient-rich diet.
Some Basic Facts about HIV and AIDS:
HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
AIDS: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
HIV is a virus that attacks your immune system. Once the virus enters the body you may not feel sick or look sick for years, but still able to infect others. Over time, the immune system may grow weak and you can become sick with different illnesses. If left untreated, the immune system will no longer be able to defend the body from infection, diseases, and cancers, which can be fatal. This stage is referred to as "full-blown" AIDS. ANYONE can be infected, despite your age, gender, sex, sexual orientation, race, or ethnicity.
In order to become infected, the HIV virus must enter the BLOODSTREAM. There are several ways this can occur:
-Vaginal or anal sex without a condom with an infected partner
-Oral sex without a condom (If tiny sores/ulcers in the mouth come in contact with semen)
-Sharing needles/syringes with an infected person (to inject drugs, get a tattoo or piercing, or for acupuncture)
-Mother to child transmission during child birth (pregnancy, labor, delivery, or breast-feeding stages included)
HIV MYTHS BUSTED: A lot of STIGMA exists in poor, developing counties because of the confusion about how HIV/AIDS is transmitted between hosts!!!! Many people are simply ignorant of how HIV is transmitted, and so they essentially treat all those who are infected as "lepers".
You CANNOT get HIV from:
-Talking, shaking hands, working, or eating with someone
-Hugging and kissing
-Coughs/Sneezes
-Swimming pools
-Toilet seats and water fountains
-Bed sheets/Towels
-Forks, spoons, cups, food
-Insects and animals
To protect yourself:
At present, there is NO CURE for HIV/AIDS. There is no vaccination against HIV yet, but there are billions of dollars donated to research and there is evidence that a vaccination may be possible in the near future!
The most important social approach to protecting yourself from infection is to practice SAFE SEX by using a condom every time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
Unfortunately, in developing countries, condoms are not as easily accessible, or men refuse to wear them, or they do not use them properly.
There are Antiretroviral drugs that can SLOW the disease to allow infected people to stay healthier for longer, but the drugs CANNOT RID of HIV, nor cure AIDS. These drugs are becoming more accessible in sub-Saharan African countries, but there is still an overwhelming need to scale-up this treatment. In Africa, when the CD4 count (a measure of certain white blood cells) of an infected person falls below 200, that person requires treatment. There are people living with CD4 counts of 100, 50, 30, and even 20 (on the verge of death) who are STILL not receiving treatment! Stephen Lewis reports that he even once witnessed "a woman with a CD4 count of ONE", barely alive, who was put on treatment and, despite all odds of a grim prognosis, miraculously was still alive three months later.
History of WHE Interns
1) The first site was initiated in Mwanza, Tanzania and has become the regional headquarters of the project. This past summer, WHE interns Ashley Motran, Jon Giles, and Missy Whaling traveled to Mwanza to support the project by volunteering their expertise to different aspects of the project.
2) The second site was established in Oyugis, Kenya this past summer. Interns Rani Suleman, Jennifer Eldridge and Amanda Armstrong traveled to Oyugis to start up the probiotic yoghurt project and to train the Orande Women's Group on how to run the kitchen sustainably.
3) A third site will soon be established in Kigali, Rwanda. Interns Nilmi Senaratna, Silvia Marroqu, and Helen Aawaii worked there this past summer, exploring the readiness for the yogurt project to begin.
4) We hope to do an exploratory visit to Uganda in the upcoming year of 2011.
Along with, Stephanie Varriano, I will be traveling to Mwanza, Tanzania and Kigali, Rwanda this semester to continue the project's goals and purposes. I will mainly be stationed in Mwanza, Tanzania, at least for the first couple of months, and then will be treveling to Rwanda to link ideas with the interns there. My hope is that this blog will be a useful place to record my activities performed in the communities each day. These posts will outline main goals, overall accomplishments, bonds that have been made with individuals, and daily progress. I hope to enlighten, inspire, and spread awareness about the HIV/AIDS crisis.
I know it's difficult to always feel that our world is in a state of emergency when our day-to-day lives are often so sheltered and we can so easily "carry on business as usual". I know am going to be witnessing first-hand poverty and devastation and I know I am going to feel guilty for all that I possess, both objects and opportunities. But I also know that we, as a rich and developed nation, have the money,the technology, and the HOPE to find a cure! I'm really hoping that in these next five months I will gain some valuable perspectives for my career path. When I return home, I hope to continue educating myself and the Western community (and hopefully eventually the global community!) about the conditions in Africa and assisting with the fundraising campaign to fight HIV/AIDS.
It hurts me to report that as each day passes, thousands are dying from AIDS-related illnesses that are both preventable and treatable by use of antiretroviral medication. I can feel it, we are so close to beating this, but how many casualties will have suffered in the meantime?
Devastating Facts/Statistics:
-AIDS is one of the primary causes of global mortality and remains the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa.
-There are 33 million people living with HIV, and 22 million in sub-Saharan Africa alone.
-Nearly 90% of all HIV-positive children live in sub-Saharan Africa.
-Last year, 1.5 million people died due to AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa alone.
-It is estimated that since the beginning of the epidemic more than 15 million Africans have died from AIDS.
Some Background Information on the WHE project:
In 2004, Stephen Lewis made an inspiring presentation for the Ontario Association of College and University Housing Officers hosted by the University of Western Ontario's Housing Department. His heart-rending speech moved a group of staff, students, and faculty to initiate a response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa. Western Heads East (WHE) was created to launch a probiotic yogurt project in Africa. WHE works alongside Lawson Health Research Institute, Brescia University College, Kivulini Women's Rights Organization, and the National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR). Student Interns have been sent to assist the Tukwamuane Women's Group (TWG) in the sustainability of the project. The TWG is a group of women, otherwise known as "Yogurt Mamas", who sell the yogurt to people in the community. WHE subsidizes the costs for the yogurt production and giving some of the yogurt to people living with AIDS (PLAs) for free. This way, WHE strives to empower the local women of the communities by providing them an opportunity to make a sustainable income, while at the same time increasing the quality of life for people affected by HIV/AIDS. The TWG has become a non-governmental organization (NGO) and the women have become leaders in their community and represent the driving force behind the entire project.
The project mission statement:
To engage staff, students, faculty, and the broader community in teaching, research, and service targeting the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa. This will raise awareness and funds to support the exchange of learning experiences while making a sustainable difference to communities in Africa.
The goal of the Western Heads East project:
To establish disease-fighting probiotic yogurt programs in Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. (Research on the healthy bacteria found in the yogurt are known to kill pathogenic bacteria and viruses)
Some Background Information on the Probiotic Yogurt:
Let's start with the basics: Yogurt is basically milk that has been naturally fermented by adding bacteria. These bacteria mostly all die in the stomach when we eat the yogurt. The benefit of yogurt is that it is highly nutritious- containing vitamins, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates!
Probiotics are different because they are live bacteria that survive in the stomach and can confer health benefits on the host (individual). WHE developed a probiotic yogurt based on the research of Dr. Gregor Reid (Lawson Health Research Institute) and Dr. Sharareh Hekmat (Brescia University College). Dr. Reid developed the bacterial strain (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1) used for Fiti, WHE's probiotic yogurt. Research has proven that yogurt containing probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 can increase the immune system response in people living with HIV/AIDS (by increasing CD4 count), decrease morbidity from diarrhoeal disease (which affects nearly 90% of untreated HIV+ people), prevent bacterial vaginosis (a common infection that increases a woman's susceptibility to HIV and other sexually trasmitted infections), and reduce transmission of HIV/AIDS during childbirth.
The yogurt is NOT a substitute for antiretroviral treatment or a cure for HIV/AIDS, however it provides nutrition that is required for the drugs to work to their greatest potential and helps alleviate some side effects of HIV/AIDS. HIV researchers have known since the early days of the pandemic that HIV can wreak havoc on the gut, which is home to an abundance of CD4 cells. Nutrient deficiencies are also a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in Africa, and the probiotic yogurt contains nutrients and microbes that aid in a healthy and nutrient-rich diet.
Some Basic Facts about HIV and AIDS:
HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
AIDS: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
HIV is a virus that attacks your immune system. Once the virus enters the body you may not feel sick or look sick for years, but still able to infect others. Over time, the immune system may grow weak and you can become sick with different illnesses. If left untreated, the immune system will no longer be able to defend the body from infection, diseases, and cancers, which can be fatal. This stage is referred to as "full-blown" AIDS. ANYONE can be infected, despite your age, gender, sex, sexual orientation, race, or ethnicity.
In order to become infected, the HIV virus must enter the BLOODSTREAM. There are several ways this can occur:
-Vaginal or anal sex without a condom with an infected partner
-Oral sex without a condom (If tiny sores/ulcers in the mouth come in contact with semen)
-Sharing needles/syringes with an infected person (to inject drugs, get a tattoo or piercing, or for acupuncture)
-Mother to child transmission during child birth (pregnancy, labor, delivery, or breast-feeding stages included)
HIV MYTHS BUSTED: A lot of STIGMA exists in poor, developing counties because of the confusion about how HIV/AIDS is transmitted between hosts!!!! Many people are simply ignorant of how HIV is transmitted, and so they essentially treat all those who are infected as "lepers".
You CANNOT get HIV from:
-Talking, shaking hands, working, or eating with someone
-Hugging and kissing
-Coughs/Sneezes
-Swimming pools
-Toilet seats and water fountains
-Bed sheets/Towels
-Forks, spoons, cups, food
-Insects and animals
To protect yourself:
At present, there is NO CURE for HIV/AIDS. There is no vaccination against HIV yet, but there are billions of dollars donated to research and there is evidence that a vaccination may be possible in the near future!
The most important social approach to protecting yourself from infection is to practice SAFE SEX by using a condom every time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
Unfortunately, in developing countries, condoms are not as easily accessible, or men refuse to wear them, or they do not use them properly.
There are Antiretroviral drugs that can SLOW the disease to allow infected people to stay healthier for longer, but the drugs CANNOT RID of HIV, nor cure AIDS. These drugs are becoming more accessible in sub-Saharan African countries, but there is still an overwhelming need to scale-up this treatment. In Africa, when the CD4 count (a measure of certain white blood cells) of an infected person falls below 200, that person requires treatment. There are people living with CD4 counts of 100, 50, 30, and even 20 (on the verge of death) who are STILL not receiving treatment! Stephen Lewis reports that he even once witnessed "a woman with a CD4 count of ONE", barely alive, who was put on treatment and, despite all odds of a grim prognosis, miraculously was still alive three months later.
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