Friday, July 27, 2007
Maitengwe Home Based Care and Counselling Ctr.
Maitengwe HBC Centre provides counseling services for clients. Terminally ill patients also go through a lot of psychological and emotional trauma as a result of the different stages of HIV/AIDS such as denial, anger, depression, bargaining, withdrawal and self centeredness, before they can accept their condition. It is very important that both qualified counselors and other patients with similar concerns assist them through counseling. In order to reduce HIV infection and support of HIV+ persons and their families, effective counseling programs are a crucial pillar of the government’s efforts and must be attractive to men and women of various age groups, occupations, and social positions within society. We also supervise and monitor patients’ feeding, provide crisis intervention, help expand family care services to address the basic needs of orphans and PLWHAs.
In 2005, the Centre has been extended to include physical and mental therapy services for patients. Patients spend the day at the Centre to help them engage in group centered therapy such as sewing and recreational activities aimed mainly at reducing boredom, isolation as part of their diversion therapy. They also engage in various exercises necessary to keep a healthy mind, body, attitude and spirit. The profits from the clothes are an income generating component sustain clients & their families. Recreational & entertainment equipment is also open for public use in the evenings at an affordable fee.
In 2006, the Kabelano Pre-School for orphans and vulnerable children provides a learning environment that will ensure physical, social and spiritual growth. The pre-school currently cater to 45 orphans and vulnerable children.
Process of Becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer
Peace Corps was always something that I wanted to do because it would give me an opportunity to live in a different culture and learn a language. It was a time for personal growth; looking back I was so restless and needed solitude. I started my Peace Corps application in 2004 and finally submitted it in April 2006! The first interview was inspiring and it was obvious that I was ready and fit to be a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV). At the end of my interview, the placement officer asked, “Why Peace Corps?” I was upset by his question but understood him because I have worked for a few international organizations in foreign countries. I told him, “Peace Corps philosophy is different than most international non-government organizations and it’s just something that I wanted to do for a long time.” We shook hands and congratulated me and said, “soon you will be helping people helping themselves in Africa.” The process of becoming a trainee and a volunteer is quite a long process but I just took into account that this is part of the process that will put me in Africa helping others help themselves.
The African Heart
“Comforting your fears and allowing yourself the right to be human can, paradoxically, make you a happier and more productive person.” -David Burns
I came to Africa six years ago. I was twenty-four and wanted to document cases that caused human suffering like poverty, famine and diseases. As my mother and I were in the plane to Malawi she said, “you will either love this kind of work (international development and health) or you won’t but don’t tell me your opinion until our plan ride home.” It only took a day for me to learn how I felt about this country to know that I could work here.
I had found a country where people called strangers brothers, sisters, and mother. Despite the poverty, I felt humbled. I was inspired by how people treated one another, with respect, and the connection that was felt with the people and country side. People suffered here, especially the women and children. It was my first exposure to health and development issues such as famine, malnutrition, HIV/AIDS, and maternal and child health that derail achievements on the ‘development’ scale.
After visiting clinics and attending lectures on health care, my life goals changed in a heart beat and I was thinking of the requirements to make such a dramatic career shift to international health. Growing up with parents who are both in the health profession was a stable ground to start with but I predicted it wouldn’t be an easy path to pursue. As we were sitting on the plane in South Africa back to the United States, I told my mother, “this kind of work is rewarding, challenging and benefits a lot of people; this trip made a huge impact on my life both personally and professionally.”
Shortly after returning to the United States, I quit my job as a Studio Manager in Boston, moved home. I found a volunteer position with an international non-government organization working on HIV/AIDS in Malawi. In April 2004, I was back in Blantyre ready to start a volunteer position in a beautiful small African country that was experiencing high rates of HIV/AIDS, maternal mortality, famine, and malaria. All of these life changes and new experiences gave me genuine happiness.
The nine months spent in Malawi gave me a new perspective on life itself and a new career direction. I became very interested in nutrition and HIV/AIDS so I decided to take nutrition courses and prepare for a higher degree in public health. From having experiences of home based care visits of people living with HIV/AIDS, children orphaned as a result of AIDS, and poor infrastructure in the health system, and having worked in a low income country, I was ready to leap into a graduate program and finish as soon as possible so I could get back to Africa one day with the correct credentials and more field experience.
I came to Africa six years ago. I was twenty-four and wanted to document cases that caused human suffering like poverty, famine and diseases. As my mother and I were in the plane to Malawi she said, “you will either love this kind of work (international development and health) or you won’t but don’t tell me your opinion until our plan ride home.” It only took a day for me to learn how I felt about this country to know that I could work here.
I had found a country where people called strangers brothers, sisters, and mother. Despite the poverty, I felt humbled. I was inspired by how people treated one another, with respect, and the connection that was felt with the people and country side. People suffered here, especially the women and children. It was my first exposure to health and development issues such as famine, malnutrition, HIV/AIDS, and maternal and child health that derail achievements on the ‘development’ scale.
After visiting clinics and attending lectures on health care, my life goals changed in a heart beat and I was thinking of the requirements to make such a dramatic career shift to international health. Growing up with parents who are both in the health profession was a stable ground to start with but I predicted it wouldn’t be an easy path to pursue. As we were sitting on the plane in South Africa back to the United States, I told my mother, “this kind of work is rewarding, challenging and benefits a lot of people; this trip made a huge impact on my life both personally and professionally.”
Shortly after returning to the United States, I quit my job as a Studio Manager in Boston, moved home. I found a volunteer position with an international non-government organization working on HIV/AIDS in Malawi. In April 2004, I was back in Blantyre ready to start a volunteer position in a beautiful small African country that was experiencing high rates of HIV/AIDS, maternal mortality, famine, and malaria. All of these life changes and new experiences gave me genuine happiness.
The nine months spent in Malawi gave me a new perspective on life itself and a new career direction. I became very interested in nutrition and HIV/AIDS so I decided to take nutrition courses and prepare for a higher degree in public health. From having experiences of home based care visits of people living with HIV/AIDS, children orphaned as a result of AIDS, and poor infrastructure in the health system, and having worked in a low income country, I was ready to leap into a graduate program and finish as soon as possible so I could get back to Africa one day with the correct credentials and more field experience.
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