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“We
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There is a 40-60% prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in Botswana, Africa. Due to the fast growing spread of the disease in this country, the government has been aggressive in addressing the issue and has gained support from the U.S. Government, financial donors like Bill Gates, non-profit and faith based organizations, and partnerships with universities including Harvard, Penn State, Utah, and Baylor colleges of medicine. The initiative has been successful in providing anti-retroviral treatment to the Botswana free of charge. Princess Marina Hospital serves approximately 6,000 individuals daily with free medication. This progress has been great yet the need for healthcare professionals to disseminate treatment, education and awareness, program development, and psychsocial support is vital. I am grateful to have the opportunity to return to Africa for nine weeks to continue to learn and experience firsthand the needs of those affected by HIV/AIDS. In Botswana, every motswana is affected by the disease whether it is directly or indirectly. Responding effectively is imperative. My goal this summer is two-fold. Through my sending church, First Baptist in Lakeland, Florida, www.fbclakeland.org, I will be working with missionaries, Randy and Kittie Trail. They are commissioned by the International Mission Board and currently work as campus ministers to the University of Botswana college students. Much of their work includes training students to go into the high schools educating about the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS while offering spiritual guidance and accountability. At the same time, I will be working with the Social Work department of the University of Botswana www.ub.bw. I will be counseling with HIV/AIDS orphans and caregivers as well as gaining as much information regarding the disease as I can. Princess Marina Hospital and the Baylor Children's Medical Clinic, www.bayloraids.org offers the anti-retroviral treatment to HIV patients. This is a huge resource given to the Botswana seeing that only 1% of people in all of Africa receive the AIDS medications they need. The ARV treatment will help keep HIV positive patients healthy longer, but adherence to the treatment is vital. It is a long term commitment. Once the patient begins the treatment, they must always continue the ARV medications. Due to socio-economic issues, sustainability is a challenge for many of these individuals. Part of my responsibility will be to encourage patients to first, get tested for HIV. Because of the stigma, many are afraid of testing. Also, until recently, there has been no discreet way of testing. Secondly, I will help to educate patients regarding the ARV treatment while helping them to sustain the program. Many of the Botswana who live in the villages cannot afford transportation to the hospital everyday for treatment. They struggle to feed their families as it is, so this creates a challenge for most. Psychosocial support is a great need for these families, however, it is practically non-existent. I will be counseling with orphaned children, HIV positive parents/couples, and with caregivers/relatives affected by the disease. I will also be receiving clinical hours for the completion of my Master's in Social Work from the University of South Florida, www.lakeland.usf.edu. "The children of AIDS have long roads ahead of them. It is a privilege for all of us to walk those roads with them, and to do what we can to lighten their load...." ........... |
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Mission 2002 My first mission to Africa was with Worldhope International in Nairobi, Kenya. www.worldhopeonline.com. This organization is in partnership with Orlando Baptist Church, Orlando Florida. Through the support of my home church, OakHill Baptist in Somerset, Kentucky, www.oakhillbaptist.com and Highview Baptist in Louisville, Kentucky, www.highviewbaptist.org, I was able to join a team who helped to start a community center called the “HOPE” Center where the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of the Kenyans were addressed. We were able to offer an alternative place where students and their families could receive free food, medical attention, athletic opportunities, youth activities, education, and involvement in a local church. This initiative also supports an orphanage for babies who are HIV positive where I volunteered two to three times per week. I had the opportunity to mentor the women and children and completely fell in love with the Kenyan people. What gripped my heart was the reality of HIV/AIDS in the lives of the orphaned children and their families that I had come to know and love. To see and experience the hopelessness was overwhelming yet compelling...I couldn't walk away unchanged....Hence, leading me back to Africa where a large piece of my heart will always remain... Although we live in different cultures with different customs and languages, the universal language of love is the same....communicating this to children who were abandoned and left without hope and without love........is my desire. |