Ending Integration With a Bang: Siphocosini World AIDS Day 2012

Sanibonani!

Once again it has been a while in between posts.  I would apologize, but I think I just have to come to terms with the fact that I will likely always be a sporadic blogger.  My hope is that, what I lack in frequency of posts, I'll make up for in content.  You decide!

As always, I miss all of you and I miss many things about America.  That being said, I'm very happy in Swaziland, a stunningly beautiful country where I have been fortunate to meet many amazing and welcoming people.  As I approach the end of six months in-country, it's amazing to see and feel the changes that I've experienced in so many ways.  Everyday I feel more at home, more familiar/comfortable with the language (and less self-conscious about my many mistakes), less like a spotlight is following me around everywhere I go.  I've kept myself very busy during the past few months, and have had the good fortune of successfully planning and completing my first big project already - a World AIDS Day Celebration in my community.   

Early in September, my community counterpart and I began preparation on what we planned to be a small event - something to get our feet wet and to start setting the stage for bigger efforts along the way.  Our small commemoration quickly blossomed into a large and multifaceted event.  While stressful at times, I'm so happy that we achieved this success early on, as it has strengthened my relationship with my counterpart, given me visibility and credibility in my community, and given me confidence and an optimistic view of what I will be able to achieve during my service.    

I have many projects raring to go in the new year, including building a library at one of my local primary schools (which I will start bugging you all about in the very near future), and have started some wonderful conversations about potential collborations with many of you in the good ol' US of A, but for now I'm looking forward to relaxing over the holidays (including a beach trip to Mozambique over New Years - Yeeebbooo!!!).  Below is a piece I wrote about the World AIDS Day event for Peace Corps.  And please write back to me, either in the comments, via email, on facebook, via snail mail, whatever! It gives me great joy to know what is going on in your lives!  Love you all and salani kahle (stay well)!!!

On Saturday, December 1, 2012, approximately 800 Swazis, along with a few American friends, attended the first Siphocosini World AIDS Day Event in the northern Hhohho region of Swaziland. The event was a collaboration among the Siphocosini Clinic, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), and the Siphocosini KaGogo Center, and was also supported by donations from the US Embassy, NERCHA, World Food Programme (WFP), World Vision, Spar Supermarket, Pick n' Pay, and the presence of various organizations, including the Swaziland National AIDS Program, PSI, ICAP, the Family Life Association of Swaziland (FLAS), and Lusweti. As a result of an extensive letter-writing and pavement-pounding effort by my wonderful counterpart, Busile, and I, to our Umphakatsi (local governing council), community stake holders, government agencies and every conceivable NGO in Mbabane, the event was a collaboration among the Siphocosini Clinic, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), and the Siphocosini KaGogo Center, and was also supported by donations from the US Embassy, NERCHA, World Food Programme (WFP), World Vision, Spar Supermarket, Pick n' Pay, and the presence of various organizations, including the Swaziland National AIDS Program, PSI, ICAP, the Family Life Association of Swaziland (FLAS), and Lusweti. Specifically, the early and extensive buy in of EGPAF was a huge coup, as it gave us access to Swazi professionals experienced with navigating the extensive protocol involved in pulling off a Swazi event.

 

The day was a wonderful success, despite the fact that, on the evening before, we were unsure whether our months of hard work organizing would pay off. While Bomake (women from the community) and I camped out at our community clinic preparing the last-minute details, erecting the tents, making AIDS ribbons and food tickets, and preparing food for the large number of attendees we'd projected, the sky opened up in a massive thunderstorm that threatened to stymie our efforts. Throughout the night, the rain stopped and started – what would we do if rain kept people away? We had no contingency plan, which seemed pretty shortsighted. However, luck shined on us, even if the sun didn't, and December 1 arrived, slightly overcast and misty, but rain-free.

 

The event began early with an AIDS Walk, led by the drum majorettes from Siphocosini High School and Bhekephi Primary School. The 2.5-kilometer walk began at one end of the community and ended at the grounds of the clinic, where the main event took place. As the walkers arrived, they were greeted by NERCHA banners displaying the World AIDS Day 2012 theme: “Getting to Zero: Zero New HIV Infections. Zero Discrimination. Zero AIDS-Related Deaths.” The celebration began with a performance by the drum majorettes followed by a welcome by the MC, Sipho, a senior nurse from the clinic. The event focused on addressing the importance of male involvement in the fight against HIV, and more specifically the male role in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission. To that end, EGPAF hosted the Swaziland army's drama group, Simomondiya, who performed a play addressing the necessity of male participation in a way that was both substantive and humorous and that had the audience, which contained people of all ages and genders, engaged and entertained. The performance was followed by breakout sessions, facilitated by professionals from EGPAF, to discuss the performance and issues, information and myths surrounding HIV and AIDS.

 

In addition to the residents of Siphocosini, we were joined by members of neighboring communities. We also were honored to welcome the American Ambassador to Swaziland, Makila James, who gave an inspiring speech. Throughout the day, PSI administered HIV tests at mobile testing units, while the crowd was entertained and inspired by musical, dance and poetry performances by local artists, community members and high school students; and speeches by the Hhohho Regional Health Administrator and members of the Umphakatsi, the community's traditional leadership. After being fed a delicious meal at the end of the day courtesy of food donations by WFP, Spar, Pick n' Pay, and EGPAF – and, of course, the efforts of Bomake – we wrapped up by distributing T-shirts, caps and Tom's shoes that had been donated by World Vision.

 

According to the World Health Organization, World AIDS Day exists to provide an opportunity for public and private partners to spread awareness about the status of the pandemic and encourage progress in HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and care in high prevalence countries and around the globe. With the highest HIV prevalence in the world, Swaziland benefits greatly from World AIDS Day as a tool in the battle against this epidemic, which is threatening the very existence of the Swazi people.