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.

UMATU Centre Gate & Guardhouse

Karatu is kind of in holiday mode at the moment. Monday was Eid al-Haj, the Islamic festival of the annual pilgrimage -- the Haj -- to Mecca, and Tuesday was Tanzania's Independence Day, celebrating 47 years of Independence from Colonialism.

On another note, UMATU Center is fenced and gated, complete with a strategically situated askari (guard) house. Against all odds, water is flowing and the electricity works so UMATU should be moving in later on this month or by early January at the latest.

December in Karatu

World AIDS week outreach came to an end yesterday with drums and drama at Karatu Market Day. The drama troupe Simba Masai joined CPAR and UMATU to put on a high-energy show. There was a huge turnout at the market, the last one before Christmas, so a lot of people took a break from shopping and auctioning livestock to take in a rather entertaining approach to HIV&AIDS education, counselling and testing.

World AIDS Week Outreach

In collaboration with Karatu District Health Department, CPAR and UMATU are conducting outreach activities at Karatu monthly market sites around the theme "Let's test and know our status". CPAR and UMATU talk about the benefits of getting tested so that depending on the result, one can take steps to stay negative or learn how to live positively. They are provided counselling services and District Health are offering testing services. Yesterday at Endabash over 50 people chose to test. Today the team is in Mangola, tomorrow they will travel to Mbulu Mbulu and on Sunday they will offer services at Karatu town Mnadani (market), the largest market in the district. UMATU members circulate through the hordes of people providing small group and one-to-one counselling and education on protecting oneself and others from HIV, proper use of condoms and they encourage people to test, if not at the market then at a designated health centre.

World AIDS Day 2008

Today is World AIDS Day. The purpose of this designated day is to motivate and educate about HIV prevention, putting an end to stigma and discrimination, the importance of testing and knowing one's status, and the demonstration of "positive" living. First thing this morning, UMATU and CPAR learned about the death of a one-year old girl and admittance to hospital over the weekend of her young mother, Maria. Maria is HIV positive but has been living in denial. Now her CD4 count is low, her immune system is weak, and she has developed opportunistic infections. The hospital here is severely understaffed and patients don't get the care and attention they deserve, so UMATU has started a "hospital-based care" program modeled on the "home-based care" program. As soon as we heard about Maria, UMATU members went to see her to express their sympathy for her loss, to encourage and counsel her, and to ensure that she was getting proper care. It was a good thing they got on top of the situation. The doctor on duty hadn't even heard about the case but after talking to UMATU promised to examine Maria and take appropriate action. UMATU spent time with Maria, helped her with food and drink, and made her comfortable. Maria now says that she is ready to talk honestly with the doctor and start the treatment program. UMATU will be following up tomorrow. Without their intervention, the prognosis for Maria would be grim.