Care in the community
on Rob Wootton (Zambia), 30/Sep/2010 16:07, 34 days ago
This week in Lusaka all the VSO volunteers in Zambia gathered together– joining up to share experiences (good and bad), learn about what people are doing in their placements, catch up with familiar friends who were strangers back in February and greet new faces, and of course eat and drink. The two days were split: day one was where people were in their different sector groups (HIV and AIDS for me); and on day two we were all together for a series of presentations on topics including the forthcoming elections in Zambia (supposedly taking place sometime in 2011), DfID/UKAID’s role in Zambia and income generating activities (how to rear goats for a living!). It was a good couple of days despite Lusaka being absolutely freezing. The fact that my room at the hotel had a permanently open window – because a few glass slates were missing – did not help but the change from the warmth of Mazabuka was not enjoyable.The most interesting, and also the most disturbing, part of the few days in Lusaka was the visit on the afternoon of our HIV and AIDS sector workshop to an organisation called VK Community Care Organisation. The organisation is based in an area called Garden compound in Lusaka– far from the nicest living area but also not the worst. It provides a holistic community based response to the problems faced by individuals and families affected by HIV and AIDS, TB and other diseases in this community. To my surprise there was a familiar face waving and smiling as our bus arrived at the organisation’s office. I had met Maureen, the manager of VK, when she had visited Mazabuka as part of study tour a few months earlier, and there she was greeting me very warmly as a old friend. This welcome is all very Zambian and despite the fact that she had lost her husband to HIV and AIDS very recently. We met many of the community volunteers who work for VK and then we visited some families who are receiving this support to hand over some the food (maize, oil and nuts) that VSO had bought for them. We were welcomed into one family’s small, dark and cramped home; I think there were two rooms for 4 or 5 people. We asked various questions to the person being supported by VK, and realising how VK is essential in providing food, drugs (and ensuring adherence to them) and care. I learned many weeks later from Maureen that this man who could barely stand when we met him wasnow much stronger, walking and also working. Perhaps the lasting impression was of listening to the passion from the VK volunteers in caring for others even though most of them are also HIV positive.