Today, we often hear about the AIDS epidemic and how it’s ravaging Africa the most. Conjoined with news of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is news about all sorts of movements and campaigns to help fight the epidemic- The RED Campaign, research projects, PEPFAR, NGO’s carrying out missions on the ground…the list goes on.

However, typically, most of these efforts are reactive, seeking to deal with the epidemic of HIV/AIDS after seeing its devastating effects take toll in the lives of human beings. After much rallying and advocacy, we end up spending the most time trying to find cures or providing forms of support, such as treatment and childcare for those already ridden with HIV/AIDS.

When we fail to become proactive, the reactive approach bypasses the fact that these supportive infrastructures are finite and can be exhausted with time. Thus, much of the challenge today is replace a dwindling workforce and seemingly more critical, the healthcare workforce.

The healthcare workforce is at a high risk for contracting HIV/AIDS, a risk that becomes even higher with a decreasing workforce. This results in decreasing productivity, and finally decreasing GDP which weakens hospitals’ capabilities to provide optimal care, due to lack of government funding. And so at this point healthcare staff are put at the most danger of contracting the virus, a danger that once succumbed to would force them into the downwardly spiraling loss of workforce.

But there is hope! We can establish proactive measures. This means gearing more of our efforts towards preventative approaches like education on safe sex and gender equality.  Furthermore we can begin to address bigger, more overarching issues of poverty that make African people vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. Therefore, giving people the tools to become more actively involved in determining their future disease status is where our best bets lie.

It’s been decades since we’ve been trying to find a cure. We’ve made progress, but treatment is not a viable option for those who  need it most. When we are faced with such ill fated fortunes, I say circumvent the problem. I say answer the question of ensuring no one ever gets infected to begin with.

Research shows that preventing HIV/AIDS infection requires that we begin education as early as possible, meaning with the youngest group of people capable of learning- children. This is a controversial issue, but when circumstances demand it (areas in which HIV/AIDS prevalence is as high as 30%, 1 in 3), we must rise to the challenge in an age and culturally appropriate way.

The views in this article are representative of solely the author’s and may or may not represent those of SCOUT BANANA.

Previous entry: a first glimpse: zonke

13 May 2008

South Africa is much the same and different as many African countries that I have visited. Same in the sense of the smell of burning oil and gasoline, shipping containers as buildings, the red dirt, the friendly people, passenger vans as taxis, crazy driving, dogs for security, chickens and goats roaming everywhere, and the seemingly common practice of taking things as they come. The differences and nuances come in the country’s history – white minority oppressive rule. White people are not unheard of in this area of Africa and South Africa specifically – uncommon, but not unseen. You get a sense that you are always being watched, but in a different way than what may be experienced in other African countries without such a history. It is more of a, “why are you here” look instead of the, “oh! You are white.” The history of white oppression and the current issue of white organizations taking away from the communities makes the dynamic similar in skepticism, but different in why.

Today there was a meeting of the parents and guardians of the children at the center. I was not surprised to see that the majority of the guardians in attendance were women. The meeting was excellent in that it is incorporating the families and parents with the work of the center, since everyone is working towards the same goal – the children’s future. ‘China’ and another man [Mr. Ndaba] came today – they both work for the Library system and are self-proclaimed educators. For the success of the center it is also vital for the teachers to be interested and involved in the activities of the center. Parents, guardians, librarians, educators, teachers – the center requires a community coalition invested in the children’s future if it is to be a success as well as a strong positive for the future of the community.

In a sense community development has been hindered by the negation of education. Bantu education Acts left the black majority behind and now its effects perpetuate into inadequate schools in remote informal settlements and townships.

We had a tour of Zonkizizwe. There are 2 clinics for the 6 zones of Zonkizizwe Proper. Health services are free, provided by the government and are much used by the residents. I hope to be able to closer look at the health impacts of development and education in Zonke. It seems a pressing issue for many families and children is nutrition [malnutrition] and access to food. I have not yet been able to tell the extent of HIV/AIDS in Zonke, but that will be essential to understanding health and development in South Africa.

As much of what I have seen in African communities there is an incredible potential and energy to make change and improve for the future. The key is now facilitate that for those communities to actualize it themselves. “It takes a village to raise a child” – this idea really seems to be at the root of the African heritage and essential to future understandings of development in Africa. (This is a large generalization, but the basic idea of family structures and how that plays out is important all across Africa when working in development).

Back to the meeting: it was a great way to get community feedback and evaluate progress, programs, and potentially identify actions for the future that can be implemented. The issue I see in coming in the near future is employment. We can only do so much to supplement education, we cannot run schools. When students don’t pass the test for university there needs to be something in place to give them the skills to get trained and employed. My thinking now cuts to the idea of green-collar jobs/ green jobs/ green economy in the US to fight poverty, promote conservation, and cut crime and unemployment. A similar model must be able to work here. We hope to also start a book club in conjunction with the libraries and maybe the schools – this will be important to fostering and sustaining the coalition of teachers/ educators.

29 August 2008 Reflections:

The guardian meeting helps to build a community coalition that is dedicated to one another. People in the community who may have been facing issues alone can now come together and see that there are others also facing the same issues. The meeting also makes a family of those benefiting from the center. This also serves as an evaluation of the center’s activities where guardians can say what is working, what isn’t, or give suggestions of things they need. What is really important as part of these meetings is that the suggestions of the children and youth served by the center are used for everything. Their ideas, suggestions, and needs are utilized in decision making since it is their center – no one else owns it. As a very related issue, the center is starting a Young Intern program to train youth at the center to become the next staff members. So those who directly benefit from the center will soon become the next staff who will be able to give suggestions straight from experience.

Previously posted on the When not in Africa. . . blog.