Some time ago we took advantage of another opportunity to go around the villages (all left to live is lost a bit 'of rural life!) and this time find a new way to make information on AIDS. Hospital Naggalama works with a local NGO (Mumy Mukono Multi-purpose Youth Organisation-www.mumyouganda.org) that carries out various activities including health education and the hospital collaborates in particular with HIV clinic. We have aggregated to a 'outlet during which volunteers Mumy went to villages to make HIV testing to people who presented themselves voluntarily and to raise awareness through songs and performances.
The day was well conducted: 13 on Saturday, leaving at the hospital with the machines, the selection time in half a day because it is usually the Saturday is the day where people go to farming (farmers there go every day but who has a different job can 'go to grow only on Saturdays, and all have at least a small field), therefore, usually in the morning, before 14, there is no one around or willing to listen.
We started with machines and we recovered several members of the organization along the way so much to cram into the car in a decade, including the giant drum with which they played a little later. After an hour
plenty of dirt road (during which, as usual, Greg was peacefully asleep) we reached the village that was our goal. We parked and unloaded a few things the construction of which the group needed. We were in front of the village health center, the second level, then the possibility of hospitalization. Matt and I we were amazed at the cleanliness and order that transpired at a glance, I also went to the toilet, which consisted of a latrine but overall did not stink not too much and above all there was a stick on the wall to which was attached to the toilet and out was a small tank full of water to wash your hands! However, we were amazed of cleaning equipment and looking around because we were surrounded by nature, more precisely, we were very close to the Mabira Forest, a primary forest that lies nearby. Looking up seemed to be in the middle of nowhere and lowering the generator could be seen giving the opportunity to have lights around the center and possibly a refrigerator. After settling
volunteers Mumy (people of different ages, social backgrounds, both male and female) dressed blacks skirt or pants and shirt of the association have a colored cloth hanging on two trees (and the scenery here is done!) and were positioned: they and the drum. They began to sing the anthem of Buganda (one of four kingdoms that make up Uganda and that corresponds to the area where we are) during which all the spectators stood up and with their hands on their hearts sang all together.
I finally started to songs about AIDS prevention, hygiene etc accompanied by drum and a few scene during which the audience laughed divertitissimo.
In Uganda, but also in Tanzania, the song or poems are used very much as communication and social health people, even the illiterate, so they can receive the message in an engaging and entertaining and maybe even a few easily remembered verse. It 'very frequent in the schools during any type of event to see and hear the school dance to the rhythm of songs that explain how to prevent malaria, talk about sexual abstinence against AIDS, teach basic hygiene
... The song and the drums are really here a fundamental part of people's lives, at all social levels and all ages.
So in our case the best way to pass an important message such as the prevention of AIDS is to sing and the boys Mumy seen three times a week to prepare and Saturday lend their voices to the service of this great cause.
about an hour after the show and received the due applause, we moved to another village, the most 'populous and near the main road, there we placed in front of a school. Within a classroom volunteers to Mumy and some nurses and laboratory technicians Naggalama Hospital performed the HIV test to those who had voluntarily made a card and fill in a few hours the results were ready and a couple of volunteers were trained and well prepared information and advice to those who asked especially to those who were given a positive result (at end of day 8 are positive results on sixty who have taken the test). The counseling is a key part of the accompaniment of the infected person, through the consultant is well prepared to explain in person what will meet, what are the next steps and checks to be addressed, is below the psychologically and explains the possibility of using of antiretroviral drugs and their effects etc.
While in school these delicate conversations took place outside the other volunteers were performing again in songs and in a drama about a couple of hours (a kind of theatrical performance) with costumes (very simple , that is) that staged a situation of daily life and the heart was obviously aware of the transmissibility of AIDS ... it was all in Luganda, we understood a little but have heard many many laughs and some succeed we also made us see the expressions and gestures of the actors. So a delicate subject but manages to keep them entertained and attentive many people leaving a message that will hopefully bring it home and send everyone in the family and among friends ... but who knows ...
INFO IN-FORM
In 2005 a ' survey of the Ministry of Health has estimated about 915.400 between adults and children affected by HIV / AIDS in Uganda.
The majority of infections was registered in Kampala and regions Central and North America, the majority in urban areas. In 2002, 6.2% of Uganda's total population was infected with HIV / AIDS resulting in a huge number of orphans.
(data www.aidsuganda.org)
must be admitted that much progress has been made and that prevention and awareness campaigns are having their fruit, although there are ongoing debates particularly strong connection with the campaign on abstinence sexual. In Uganda, however, is always cited as the country marked improvement in terms of the fight against AIDS.
one page is not sufficient to address such an issue that we are also informing us little by little while ... I tell our direct experiences .. you deepen ....;)
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