Global Connections For Change Hosts a 5K Walk and Run and Health Fair, Saturday September 7th

So does anyone know about Global Connections for Change? This is a small non-profit organization that has helped several local and international causes over the years, and this year has chosen our Duke Infectious Diseases Community as the recipients of their fundraising activities.   It is with pride that I invite anyone who loves to run, and anyone who loves to walk to attend this event which will begin at 10:00 am with registrations and the welcome to the health fair that accompanies.

This exciting day will help to support the John A. Bartlett CARE Fund, a small emergency fund that supports our HIV-infected patients when there is no other support available, for medicines or medical equipment, rental deposits, assistance with dental care, utilities, special nutritional supplies, and other essential items that in this difficult time are simply crucial for people who are waiting for disability or Medicaid, have had a hospitalization or other emergency that has left them in sudden dire circumstances.  Our professional social workers and case manager do a thorough assessment to ensure the integrity of the expenditure, and during this time, assist with money management, contacting other "helping" agencies, and professional counseling to help our folks for the long term.

The day will also support Outreach Educational Events with our Community Advisory Board and Duke ID team.  These events include pertinent issues for the Durham, NC and Moshi, Tanzania Community, such as HIV-Basics, HIV-Prevention, HIV & other sexually transmitted infections, HIV & Depression, Mental illness, and/or Substance Use.  In Moshi, Tanzania and in Duke HIV Pediatrics, many issues pertaining to  HIV-Mother to Child Transmission Prevention, and the Transition from pediatrics to adult care are apparent & currently unmet by the standard agencies in the area.  Our Community Advisory Board Youth pair with an adviser to help other HIV-infected young people grapple with these issues, using their knowledge from their Community Advisory Board trainings to reach out to their community.  Three cheers to the Duke Infectious Diseases experts who donate their time to  these outreaches, and to the Moshi Advisers who donate their time to the support of these young people.

But, we need your help and your participation.  On September 7th, agencies throughout the Duke Community and Durham will display their materials on the grassy field adjacent to the Al Buehler trail.  The run and walk registration starts at 10:00 and the health fair with music, food and performances by our own Purina Chow follow the race and will create a joyous atmosphere for everyone.  The cost is minimal!!!  For Adults, just $20 and for Students, just $15 will help our programs to survive and continue to provide much needed information and support for those who have requested assistance and education.

So come on out!--Take a look at the Moshi CAB, and check out the Global Connections for Change Website to see previous races!!!  We welcome you to the day.

Here is a Happy Moshi CAB-- "support our youth!!!"

And here is nearly the whole gang in Moshi!

The Ethical Volunteer

Here is a movie created by an old friend who ran a hostel in Moshi Tanzania for about 4 years.  She is back in East Africa and other places promoting "ethical volunteerism", and it is a great thing.




So follow this as you plan your volunteer experience to wonderful places with wonderful people!

NYTB Katrina Rose Dideriksen - "I'm Not a Painting"

My daughter Katrina Rose was asked to sing this song for the New York Theater Barn, and I was lucky enough to see her rehearse it with the authors.  For the past two weeks I was unable to get the song off my mind.  Now she has finally sung it, and the power in the song and her presentation of it haunt me.  I ache for her to get her big break, but I revel in the things that she has accomplished. Hang in there girl.  One day your big break will come.

A Remembrance of a Young Girl

We have returned to the US, and ordinarily I would write about jet lag, the mountains and fond recollections of our trip and of our fortune to be back in our house, with family and kitties.  But, I want to make a recollection of a young girl who needlessly died in Moshi.

This young girl, I will call her Mary, though that is not her name, had been infected with HIV from birth.  Which parent was first infected is unknown, apparently both parents were rather prominent people, although I did not know them.  After her father died, life became difficult for she and her mother, a common theme in Africa.  Mary was a good student and had a smile that could light up the world.  It is not easy to be a good student when you have HIV-infection because you are often prone to illnesses and you have to go to the clinics at least once/month to collect your medication.  Usually, you have to take an entire day just to see your medical provider and get your medicine, even without a thorough exam.  Most frequently, you don't have an opportunity to even express your concerns about the way you feel, your rashes, your headaches or fevers.  The drill is to get there early, wait until your name is called, and to get your medicine.

Indeed, if you are a young girl and are totally ashamed about your illness, and definitely don't want anyone you know to see you, your pattern is to sneak into the CTC, mumble that you need your medicine, and scurry out as quickly as possible.  You don't want donors to come to the school and single you out as one of the "AIDS Victims" who are getting their school fees paid by well meaning Mzungus (white people) because you are likely to be teased by everyone including possibly the teacher after the well meaning mzungu leaves.

This was the case with Mary.  Her saving grace was that she belonged to our Moshi Community Advisory Board (CAB), where quite a few other young people attended, some of whom were also HIV-infected.  The common theme among them was that it didn't matter.  The whole board accepted everyone, and in particular the Teenagers held a special bond.  But, things did not go well for Mary.  Her mother became ill and she had to miss quite a lot of school.  Several other board members said that when they saw Mary, she didn't look well, and our fabulous Research Directors said that she was plagued with low CD4 counts.  One counselor said that she was very depressed, in particular because she had missed so much school.  It was clear that she would have to resit her exams which would make it very difficult to pass.

She stopped coming to CAB meetings.  Just before I left, this counselor called me to tell me that Mary had died.  She had talked to the mother who said that she died and had already been buried before anyone could even be informed.  Apparently, even the family was ashamed.

When I think about this tragedy, especially as I return to the states where the life expectancy of children born with HIV is nearly the same as a child born without HIV, I cry.  And I do it particularly because it doesn't have to be this way.  The stigma and shame connected with HIV have lessened in some areas, but clearly not where we live in Tanzania, and the only thing that seems to give hope are clubs like our Teen Club with the Youth CAB.  Maybe if we had all known what was happening, we might somehow have been able to offer her more support and certainly our fabulous teens would have been by her side and helped.

I don't want likes on this post, but I hope those that read it, might be aware and offer their support in some way.  There don't have to be more "Marys".