Karibu Mwanza! (welcome to mwanza)

Hey Hey Hey!

I finally made it back to the internet cafe. I'll probably only be able to post on the weekends, because the internet is too slow and frustrating for me to deal with it everyday. I guess I'm just too used to having high-speed back in the states. Anyhow, let me tell you a little bit about Mwanza...

Mwanza is in the NW region of Tanzania situated right on the shore of Lake Victoria (the world's 2nd largest freshwater lake). It's the country's second largest city with a population of at least 500,000 but it's really hard to get an accurate estimate. Some people think there could be well over 1 million people living in the area, and I'd believe them. Even since the last time I was here in 2007, Mwanza has grown rapidly. I can't believe the hoards of people everywhere and constant vehicle congestion. Most of the main roads in the city center are paved, but the majority of the side roads are your worst nightmare. I can't imagine trying to drive in the city here (plus they drive on the left side of the road...silly british).

I'm working at Shaloom Care House, which is run by the Archdiocese of Mwanza Health Dept. Shaloom is an organization for HIV/AIDS only--the rest of the health dept deals with other health areas. Shaloom provides free HIV tests, as well as a variety of other services for HIV-positive persons. They provide free ARV drugs to those who can't afford them, and there is a doctor that is at shaloom on tuesdays and fridays that many people line up to see (but only if they are registered HIV-positive by shaloom). They also have free counseling services and support groups to reduce the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS. For children who are orphans because of AIDS, shaloom will pay their school fees, purchase their school uniforms, and give them money for some food and supplies (beans and soap on a monthly basis).

However, when I arrived here I was surprised to learn that Shaloom has almost no prevention/education program for those in the community who are not HIV-positive. So, I've been making educational brochures with information regarding what HIV is and how it's transmitted. Also, I'm working on some materials dealing with common HIV myths and FAQs. Hopefully, we will hand these materials out to youth at our next community event--a talent show in June. I'll keep you posted with my progress at work, but so far my co-workers have been very nice to me. They're bearing with me as I struggle to pick up Swahili, and luckily some of them know a little bit of english.

So, until next time, take care!
-Ben