KZN (province of KwaZuluNatal) is a gorgeous region for Peace Corps Service-beaches, Zulu culture, fantastic mountain ranges and sunsets, mild climate, and several World Heritage Sights. This week we returned from a long weekend in St. Lucia where AIDS in Africa did not enter our minds. However the return to the Hospital on Monday brought the AIDS epidemic close and jarring.
On Monday two boys that are both twelve years of age and have been patients for 3 months were discharged. They have participated in the Jabule handcrafts program and made wire cars, beading projects and shoes. Initially they were silent but after several weeks started speaking in lucid English. They were always big winners at Bingo on Tuesdays. I was elated that they were cured of their TB and could go back home and resume schooling. One of the boys came to me and told me that he was going home. I told him that I was so happy that he could go back to his village and be with his parents. He started to get very emotional and stated that he loved being at Mountain High Hospital and that he was very sad to go home. His father is very sick with AIDS and his mother cannot take care of the family. I initially had difficulty understanding how two boys could be sent to an adult hospital but changed my views when I saw how the staff and patients cared for the boys, who appeared much younger than their 12 years. The two boys became great pals over the course of their treatment and never whined about their confinement. AIDS is a social disease in Africa and affects every family member.
A ward assistant (nurse’s aide) in her thirties died this week and a spokesperson for the ward assistants collected money from all staff to pay for taxi rides to the funeral. No one would speak of the cause of death or the circumstances. Friends, relatives and coworkers “Pass Away” and people grieve.
A staff member who is HIV positive announced that she is pregnant. She is having a baby to leave something “Behind” when she gets sick.
A patient that has been crocheting squares for Afghans for the hospital beds as part of the Handcrafts project died. Each week as she came to the Jabule group she was weaker and thinner with the last week showing up in a wheel chair as one of the male patients wheeled her in to participate. She asked for more yarn to complete the Afghans a few days before she died. She was a beautiful young woman in her 20’s with determination and courage but the disease sapped her strength and being. At the end she just wanted to crochet the beautiful squares for the beds.
Bingo is a big hit here on Tuesdays with 10 men and 20 women participating. This week a nursing instructor wheeled three patients into the bingo melee to take their minds off their illness and have some fun. One of the women arrived leaning on a cane and the nursing instructor’s arm but grabbed a bingo card and won the first round. A few minutes later another patient was arrived in a wheel chair and also had beginner’s luck and won on the first round.
Friday is Cooking Lessons for the patients and this weeks menu was American pizza with groans when the garlic burned in the olive oil but rave reviews at the final product. Zulus love slapstick humor and enjoyed seeing the pizza dough stetched “Luci” style to fit the pan.
No Opportunity for silliness or entertainment goes wasted here at Mountain High. Bingo Games need break times and laughter which was provided by teaching the patients the Hokey Pokey and the B I N G O song this week. Of Course “See You Later Alligator, After While Crocodile” is also a big hit and especially appropriate after seeing crocs more than 140 years old in St. Lucia last weekend. Wish I could take the patients out for a weekend!
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