ISP Update

So to explain it again, for my independent research project, I am spending a total of 3 weeks in Pietermaritzburg. I am working with an NGO (non-governmental organization) called Siyaphila which means “We are living” in Zulu. This program currently works within the hospitals providing adherence classes to people who are about to go on ARV (anti retrivirals – HIV medication) teaching them about what kind of side effects they are going to expect etc. They also have support group meetings within the townships of Pietermartizburg twice a month that HIV + individuals attend to talk about what they are experiencing and anything really. They also do home visits depending on the severity of the patient where they visit the patients at their homes and check out how they are doing. Since TB is the main killer for HIV patients, it only makes sense that there is a TB program working alongside this HIV program. This is what I am trying to do for my ISP. I am implementing a TB program for Siyaphila. What this involves is writing a funding proposal which I have already done and getting lots and lots of funding from donors to start this. We are currently working on getting a TB expert to do a workshop educating the Siyaphila staff members on signs and symptoms of TB. Also making a pamphlet and getting the word out about Siyaphila. Another big thing is getting funding to coordinate food packets to be given to the patients who in severe poverty and have no food to take their TB medications with. Anyway that and some more stuff.

So that’s what I am doing. Today I went around with the coordinators of Siyaphila on their rounds. We went to one support group and two home visits. It was really eye opening hearing all of HIV + individuals stories.

Other than that we have just been getting to know Pietermaritzburg. We’ve walked into town and explored. There’s a mini mall in walking distance, so that’s been convenient. Also I’ve been going for some runs, hoping to lose the weight I gained in Cato.

Oh this past weekend we meet some of the locals who go to the University and went and saw a famous band here play. We also watched some of the soccer tournament that Hannah’s friends participated in. We had a couple braais (cookouts) here at the backpackers as well.