Day 5
Ermelo- Project day visit to local Provincial Hospital and HIV/AIDS clinic
This day was as inspiring as it was difficult. The Ermelo Hospital currently has close to 2000 HIV/AIDS patients who are receiving ARV medication, the drugs used to treat AIDS patients. In two rooms they work with hundreds of patients a day, and it was heartbreaking to see how understaffed and over worked the nurses are. There are a great many needs for this hospital and others like it throughout South Africa, and while these people are able to get treatment many more are waiting. We were encouraged by the enthusiasm and passion of the nurses who coordinate the programme, and eagerly tell of stories of individuals going about a normal life if they are able to get on and stay on ARV treatment. For the patients it is also no easy task to collect their medicine and see a doctor. Many come at 4:30am and wait the whole day, some having nothing to eat and risk loosing a job for taking a day off. There are also close to 200 children currently getting ARVs, but highlighted was the fact that many children are left to a early death sentence if found HIV positive. Some of the request made by the hospital workers were things like the creation of a soup kitchen, something incredibly important for people taking their medication. We had a long discussion about what we saw after our visit, and while this was just one hospital, all of us were reminded that there are countless others like it thoughout the country. The local media was there to document our visit and we were excited at the prospect that perhaps our visit would help to inspire local members of the community to do something for the hospital and the ARV rollout centre.
That evening all of the hikers attended a local church dinner in which many of the Ermelo Rotarians helped to plan. With good food and fellowship we joked and discussed our further plans. The evening ended wonderfully as the Ermelo Rotarians vowed to donate R2500 to the AIDS Hike Fund! Thank you Ermelo!
Ermelo- Project day visit to local Provincial Hospital and HIV/AIDS clinic
This day was as inspiring as it was difficult. The Ermelo Hospital currently has close to 2000 HIV/AIDS patients who are receiving ARV medication, the drugs used to treat AIDS patients. In two rooms they work with hundreds of patients a day, and it was heartbreaking to see how understaffed and over worked the nurses are. There are a great many needs for this hospital and others like it throughout South Africa, and while these people are able to get treatment many more are waiting. We were encouraged by the enthusiasm and passion of the nurses who coordinate the programme, and eagerly tell of stories of individuals going about a normal life if they are able to get on and stay on ARV treatment. For the patients it is also no easy task to collect their medicine and see a doctor. Many come at 4:30am and wait the whole day, some having nothing to eat and risk loosing a job for taking a day off. There are also close to 200 children currently getting ARVs, but highlighted was the fact that many children are left to a early death sentence if found HIV positive. Some of the request made by the hospital workers were things like the creation of a soup kitchen, something incredibly important for people taking their medication. We had a long discussion about what we saw after our visit, and while this was just one hospital, all of us were reminded that there are countless others like it thoughout the country. The local media was there to document our visit and we were excited at the prospect that perhaps our visit would help to inspire local members of the community to do something for the hospital and the ARV rollout centre.
That evening all of the hikers attended a local church dinner in which many of the Ermelo Rotarians helped to plan. With good food and fellowship we joked and discussed our further plans. The evening ended wonderfully as the Ermelo Rotarians vowed to donate R2500 to the AIDS Hike Fund! Thank you Ermelo!
3 comments:
You are doing really well, Guys.
Keep up the good work and careful with the feet!
Your progress was advertised to all and sundry at last night's Christmas Party. John even sod a few T shirts!
Take care!
David Crossley
Glad to see you guys made it to Ermelo safely. Thank you for taking time to visit our projects in Witbank and Middelburg and it was great meeting you.
Love reading your blog, proud of you all, rest up and take care of your feet! Mary Kosciulek
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