So I had the oppertunity of a lifetime...I was able to spend 3 nights in a very remote village with our Community Health Workers. Now you must understand, this village has no running water (well, there is a river I guess), no power, no heat and is about 50 km off the highway, on a long dirt/mud road that winds through the mountains. SO getting there on monday was no treat...we packed 9 people into the cab of a pickup truck..cozy hey?
There were 4 of us in this one small bedroom, which was our bedroom (for 4), our kitchen and sometimes our bathroom. We had a corner full of food to last us for the week and one small burner that runs on paraffin. Dinner would take roughly 4 hours to cook.
So we were lucky enough to make some home visits with out Home based care workers. A big part of the day included walking to the homes. It took about an hour and a half just to get to the first one. Up hill and through 2 rivers. Really.
The visits were quite interesting. Though, it started to feel a bit depressing by the end, because you are always going into homes of very sick people. People that lay on the ground using only a foam mattress and blanket, that cannot move to even toilet themselves. Luckily family seems to be quite important to this culture and so, most patients are well looked after in there home. We did visit one man that puzzeled me. I knew that culture would be an issue, but...we met this young man, in his early thirties who is HIV +. His CD4 count is quite low and was put on ARV's a while ago. Sadly, this man will not take them because his church has told him not too. Instead, he is to take these herbal immune boosters. How long will this man live without his ARV's??? Probably not long.
Anyway..It was definitely an interesting experience, one I will not soon forget. Hopefully I will have some pictures up soon...the computer here does not always cooperate, as you all may have heard! Also..if anyone is interested in getting a better look at the village I will be spending the next four months in..check out GLOBAL NATIONAL News on Feb 11, 2008. They were here filming in December. It should be an interesting peice. I think the national edition starts at 5pm. Enjoy and let me know what you think!
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Hey Lenny....WOWWWWWWWWWWWW! Here I am freezing my butt at 28 below which is warm today!!!(has been down to minus 45 give or take for about a week) feeling sorry for myself cause my fingers are ice cold and I read this and realize you are not just playing but helping these poor very sick people. Sad but happy and very PROUD of YOU Len!
Love Josh
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