As we start the new year, we wanted to take a bit of time to go over what exactly it is that we do in Swaziland. Hopefully, this will answer your questions and help you understand what we are doing. If you have any more questions, please contact us and we will be happy to give you more answers.
CHIPS (Children’s HIV Intervention Program in Swaziland)
We are the field leaders for Vuvulane CHIPS. In April, 2010 we moved from Mbabane, Swaziland (where we had worked with the Hope School) to Vuvulane, Swaziland which is across the country. This move was made so that we could assist Jabulani and Mary (who are national staff) run and expand the CHIPS program. Currently, the CHIPS program in the Vuvulane township services 5 communities, two located inside the township and 3 on the outer parameter. The villages range from areas with permanent structures such as a preschool to areas with nothing but squatter homes on the edge of sugarcane fields. Most areas have 100-300 inhabitants. The five areas serviced are Mgidzangcunu, Section 19, Macethuka, Khomba, and Maphiveni.
Along with Jabulani and Mary, we work to provide care for minors and caregivers of minors who are HIV+. Our duties vary from screening patients for HIV, public health education, and transporting patients to and from Good Shepherd Hospital. Once patients are enlisted into the government's HIV ART (anti-retroviral therapy) program, the ART medications are free. CHIPS workers help facilitate entry into the program and then provide support as needed.
Our CHIPS supervisors are Daran and Teresa and we are working closely with them to get the funds/permission to build a medical clinic/community center in Maphiveni. Having this community center would enable us to care for the health needs of this village while also providing a place to have classes and a central location to run the micro-industries. Another one of our projects, is to start micro-industries, in these communities, which involves teaching the local people a marketable skill so that they can then provide for their families.
Overall, our main purpose here in Swaziland is to share the God's love and His salvation to everyone we meet, that they would come to know God as their loving Heavenly Father who has provided a way to Him through His Son Jesus Christ. Please continue to pray for us as we go about the Father's work here in Swaziland.
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