Medical & Community Project Knysna, South Africa August 2010

Medical & Community Project Knysna, South Africa August 2010

“I have been doing the Medical and Community project with EDGE of AFRICA & Medforce. My project lasted for four weeks. Before I arrived here I did not know what to expect. I was a bit nervous and a bit excited. However, my time in Knysna has been an amazing experience. Everyone, whether the staff of EDGE of AFRICA, the doctors at the Provincial hospital, or the home based carers, all have been very friendly and welcoming. I volunteered at the Knysna Provincial Hospital, the pre-schools, Sinethemba Youth Centre, hospice and also the THAT’S IT clinic. I have gained both medical experience and have also had the chance to contribute to the community. Through my work at the medical projects I got to examine patients with different illnesses and also learned about how the healthcare service works in South Africa. The highlights have definitely been watching the caesarean section and natural delivery! Working at the community projects gave me an insight into the social, financial and cultural backgrounds of the people living in Knysna. Overall, it has been an interesting experience, one which will definitely help me in my university application as well as my later life!”

Toozy Nanda, UK

"Volunteering with EDGE of AFRICA & Medforce has been the best experience of my life, at times it has been challenging but the challenges have definitely helped me grow as a person. I had never travelled to South Africa before or travelled anywhere by myself, in addition I have never had the opportunity to live in a house with 8 other people that I had never met before. I was encountering new situations that were already widening my life experience before I had even begun the project. I find it quite difficult to summarise everything I have done in Knysna over the past four weeks, however, the most prominent memory I have is from the Knysna Provincial Hospital. I was volunteering on the maternity ward and while in the labour room I met a patient, she was having contractions every few minutes that appeared to be extremely painful, therefore, I decided to talk to her so as to become a distraction.

The fact that I was able to just go up to this patient and start talking is an achievement in itself, this is because I was an extremely shy person before I came to South Africa which limited my experience as a volunteer in England. Since being in South Africa, I had become accustomed to the friendly nature of all the locals and this made me feel so comfortable in this new situation. Moreover, when I started to talk to the patient I only had to ask a few questions and from that she was so open with me that I learned about her whole life up until I had met her. The most inspiring aspect of this patient is that fact that she was a single mother who was also HIV positive. She told me that she had found out her status and that she was pregnant within a week of each other. Knowing all this, I was stunned by her evident mental strength; she did not exude any hostility or negativity towards her situation. In addition, she was very educated about the HIV virus and that was very refreshing and made me optimistic about HIV education for all South Africans. I became quite attached to this patient within a matter of minutes and spent the whole day with her, talking about her life, she was also curious about my life in England which seemed so simple and easy when I was telling her about it.

When I returned to the volunteer house that afternoon, I was in a very pensive mood. I was thinking about my life and any "struggles" I thought I had encountered and it all seemed so trivial. I though about that patient and how she was facing so many challenges in her life all at once, her positively was so inspiring to me. I have definitely matured as a result of volunteering in Knysna, before this experience I feel as though I lived in a bubble and was completely unaware of the struggling some people face in their lives on a daily basis. All the people I met in Knysna have positively altered my perception of life; they have shown me that no matter what adversities one faces, one will always prevail when you remain optimistic. I will never forget the time I spent in Knysna and am forever thankful to all those who made the experience so amazing for me."

Zahrah Dad, UK

Local Support for a New Vegetable Garden at Knysna’s ‘HIV Clinic’

Local Support for a New Vegetable Garden at Knysna’s ‘HIV Clinic’

Over a month ago EDGE of AFRICA volunteers initiated a vegetable garden at the ‘HAART (Highly Active Anti – Retroviral Treatment) Clinic’ at Knysna Provincial Hospital.

At present the garden is small but it is growing beautifully! It comprises of cabbage, spinach beetroot and spring onions.

The idea for this vegetable garden came from Dr. Laurel Giddy; she would eventually like to see all the grass area surrounding the ‘HARRT Clinic’ covered in veggies!

The purpose of this garden is that people attending the ‘HAART Clinic’ will eventually be able to take a selection of veggies home with them as they leave the clinic. All the veggies that will be grown and that are currently growing are of high nutritional value to increase a healthy diet.

With any chronic illness and when taking regular medications a good, balanced diet is imperative. We hope that by establishing this vegetable garden we can assist people who may not have the financial means to buy fresh vegetables essential for such a diet.

The next phase of the garden is going to be a ‘mealie’ garden (as in Corn on the cob!)
We have had a lot of support from the people of Knysna and I suppose this would be as good an opportunity as any to thank these people.

Thank you to Beth Wilkinson from that’s it and also to Margaret and Bronwyn at Hedges Garden Centre.

Eavanna Maloney
http://www.EDGEofAFRICA.com/

'Today I Am A New Person' By Ibrahim J.

“ Today I met a man who had not seen his family in 61 Years. Yesterday I couldn’t wait to see my family after 4 weeks.

Today I met a 36 year old man in the hospital; stroke, with no risk factors, the right side of his body fully paralysed, married only two weeks ago. Yesterday I was worried about what to do after college.

Today I met a blind woman with diabetes, breast cancer (one mastectomy later) and hypertension and she greeted me with a smile. Yesterday I had trouble getting out of bed.

Today I met a four year old girl in the hospital, abandoned on the streets and abused with cigarette burns lining her arms and neck; all she asked for was piggy back rides and some music to dance to; her laughter filled the ward like a fireplace warms a room. Yesterday I didn’t want to play with my brother because I was busy.

Today I met a carpenter, six weeks stuck in hospital, metal weights rearranging his hip bones and back, after his boss forced him to attempt to repair a weak roof and he fell through. Yesterday I did not know pain .

Today I met an HIV Positive man who had come to the hospital two days ago with a headache; today I carried his still warm body into the morgue. Yesterday I was afraid to say hello to someone on the street incase they didn’t like me.

Today I met a Zimbabwean man working a full time job during the day and earning a degree at night, sleeping four hours per day; today before he left work he took time to have a chat to me. Yesterday I felt too tired to call my Mom because I stayed late at a friends house. Joash (Project Coordinator EOA).

Today I met a boy about my age who lived in a township; when he went into a bar down town to say goodbye to a close friend, he was asked to leave because his clothes weren’t nice enough, he left without lifting a finger. Yesterday courage was only a word to me.

Today I met three wonderful women who had dedicated their lives towards the betterment of the world they inhabited. Yesterday I had only Known such Kindness in Angels. (Dayne , Jo and Eavanna EOA).

Today I am a new person”. Ibrahim Jadoon (Edge of Africa Volunteer).

‘Day in the Life’ of an EDGE of AFRICA Medical Volunteer

‘Day in the Life’ of an EDGE of AFRICA Medical Volunteer by Eavanna Maloney.

Its 07h00 and our EDGE of AFRICA volunteer wakes to another day at the EDGE of AFRICA volunteer house and sits down to a light breakfast of cereal, toast, tea and fruit. Breakfast at the volunteer house is a crazy time consisting of running around, laughing, shouting, eating sometimes simultaneously and sometimes resulting in the odd collision!

At 07h45 our volunteer is transported to the Knysna Provincial Hospital where she spends the day assisting various medical staff on the Pediatrics Ward with their daily duties. At about 11h00 after her tea break she takes time out to sit, read and play with the children in the ward. Today, one of the kiddies is lucky enough get a piggy back ride! Which she thoroughly enjoys! This is a time when the children can forget that they are in hospital and they can really just enjoy themselves!

At this time other EDGE of AFRICA Community Medical volunteers are walking in the local township of Kayalethu. They are visiting locals and helping Hospice Home Based Carers with their rounds. This is a great opportunity for EDGE of AFRICA volunteers to meet local people and learn about the cultures of Knysna.

At 14h00 after a satisfying packed lunch it’s time for our HIV/AIDS & TB Awareness volunteers to go to the Sinethemba Youth Development Centre in Kayalethu, a centre of hope, development and learning for local kids, to conduct an HIV Awareness workshop with some of the teenagers. In a fun, relaxed manner the teens ask questions and express their views while learning about the virus and how to protect themselves.

After the Workshop at about 15h30 our EDGE of AFRICA volunteer plays games and talks with the children and teenagers that are attending Sinethemba. The teenagers have really enjoyed the workshop and say they have learned a lot.

As the day comes to an end our volunteer returns to the EDGE of AFRICA volunteer house to enjoy a traditional South African meal, and everyone’s favourite – Bobotie (traditional South African Cape Malay dish).

At 19h00 all volunteers are treated to a discussion by Dr Laurel Giddy - a local HAART (Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy) Clinic Doctor. Volunteers have found this discussion interesting and very informative.

For those not ready for bed then a local DVD, ‘The Gods Must Be Crazy’ – a South African classic!

For those really not ready for bed ….. a night out on the Knysna Tiles! Usually visiting, Swing Café, Harry B’s and the Shabeen. But not too late another busy day looms!

Until next time…

http://www.EDGEofAFRICA.com