Seed Fair

Karatu District missed out on the short rains this year. Although many farmers planted beans in expectation of rain in October and November, it didn't happen. Most of our communities averaged less than one day of rainfall so the beans withered in the fields. Nevertheless, in expectation of the long rains in late February and March for Karatu's major growing season, the farmers are going ahead with field preparation and seed selection. In response to the farmers, CPAR is conducting a seed fair this week. Nderingo and Deo have teamed up with the local seed supplier to visit each community and ensure that the farmers will have timely access to the kinds of seeds they want -- namely short maturity maize and pigeon pea seeds, sunflower seeds and lablab beans.

Implementation of simple irrigation methods like manually pumping water to the field through, for example, the moneymaker pump, is a challenge in our communities due to the lack of natural springs, lakes or rivers. Farmers are reliant on rainfed agriculture which is why CPAR promotes "conservation agriculture", a technique of conserving moisture in the soil through planting cover crops and leaving crop residues in the fields after harvest.

UMATU Centre 2009

We are happy to report that UMATU moved into their new Centre just before the holiday break in December. Our next step is to furnish the training area and the kitchen/bakery. UMATU continue to do daily education outreach and the full group meets together every Wednesday. Through their outreach activities, they have supported the creation of a new group of women and men living positive. "Amani" (Peace) are meeting every Friday at UMATU Centre, with UMATU members facilitating their education on matters related to living positive -- ARVs, managing side-effects, nutrition, the importance of attending clinic regularly, treatment of opportunistic infections, and mobilizing other people to get tested so they can understand and manage their health status.

Reflection on the final days of 2008

On World AIDS Day we spoke about Maria, admitted to hospital seriously ill with AIDS-related symptoms. Marie died on Sunday, December 14th. Had this been Canada or any other northern country, she could have been saved. Here, we have access only to first-line drugs, nothing magical to bring people with full-blown AIDS back from the brink so to speak. UMATU and CPAR feel more strongly than ever that people need to get the message loud and clear -- "don't run from being HIV positive. If you wait until you get sick, it is probably too late."

Just after Maria died, an UMATU member was admitted to hospital. Her family had talked her into returning home to her village, far away from the treatment program. She became ill and when we visited her in hospital, we found her having a bad reaction to a drug she had already been found to be allergic to. A doctor had administered the drug without reading her chart or consulting with medical staff from the Treatment Centre. Again, it was very helpful for UMATU, and CPAR this time, to step in to assist. We provided a mosquito net, light bulb, food of course and even medicine after the hospital pharmacy announced that the medicine we needed was finished. We also lobbied in earnest. After this experience, the Treatment Centre and the Hospital, which are located on the same compound, are communicating more effectively with each other. And, we're talking about the importance of people taking more responsibility for their healthcare, for example, knowing the names of the drugs they are taking and the drugs they are allergic to, and instructing health personnel accordingly.