World AIDS Day

 World AIDS Day December 1^st

It has been 25 years since HIV/AIDS was first reported in Swaziland and so on the 1^st December we will commemorate what the country has achieved in the fight against this disease:  free ARVs (antiretroviral treatments), declining Mother to Child transmission, and greater awareness.  The statement for this year is the goal of no new infections by 2030 and greater disclosure from the HIV positive people, many who fear spousal abuse and discrimination which hinders their willingness to get tested and know/share their status. 

This year the regional day will be held in Vuvulane and for the first time Chips has been asked to partner with other aid organizations by attending the event to explain what CHIPS does. We will have a table in the information tent where we will have the opportunity to explain to people why Chips is so unique here in Swaziland and what services we offer including HIV testing, initiation on ARV’s, and positive living. 

We are asking for prayer, as there could be 5000 people who may attend the event, that through the speakers and drama groups many seeds will sown to bring about behavioral changes.  Also, we pray that the men would come participate in large numbers.  Often most of the events related to HIV perhaps two men will attend and forty women.  Instead of Mother to Child transmission, Chips is now calling it Parent to Child transmission to show the men have as much as a role to play as the women in protecting a new generation from being infected.

 
P.S. - If you want to support our ministry, the fastest way is to make an Online Donation via www.WorldOutreach.org
Go to "Donate" and select our name, Stephens, Ian and Jenn SWAZILAND. The system can process USA and International cards.


Or simply mail your gift to World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate for Ian and Jenn, Fund Code #97.

New Babies and 'Dying Henry'

We visited with Bongsile this week. She is expecting twins and due any day. Bongsile was in the Rav when it was totaled and we are thankful that God protected her and the babies during the accident. 

We check often on our pregnant mums throughout their pregnancy to make sure that they are doing the right things and eating well. It is our hope to educate the mothers about healthy prenatal care as well as the risks of and ways to prevent mother to child (M2C) transmission of HIV.  For this reason, we try and monitor the expectant mums closely especially near their due date so that we can transport them to the hospital for the birth.  

Our efforts at educating the mums has been very successful. M2C transmission of HIV was 10% in 2008 and this year, 2012, the transmission rate is a mere 2.5%. This is such a huge praise report and we will continue to strive for 0% and an HIV free generation.

Please pray for Bongsile as she prepares to bring two babies into the world, that the delivery will go well and that she will know the Father who gave His only Son on her behalf. 

Recently, we were getting ready to go out into the settlements to do home visits for some of the folks who have just been initiated on ARV's when Mary kept getting frantic phone calls from Henry, a new patient. We thought he was dying and decided to make a quick hike through the cane fields to check on him (the khombi wasn't starting). It was 100' or more that day and when we arrived at the homestead, Henry was up walking around-just a little queasy. 
Thankfully the visit wasn't a complete wash as Henry is Thembi's brother and we had a nice visit with Thembi. Thembi is the lady who had had the stroke and is now up and walking around, getting stronger daily.  Afterwards, we had to make the return hike. Apparently we need to teach the true meaning of 'Emergency'!

P.S. - If you want to support our ministry, the fastest way is to make an Online Donation via www.WorldOutreach.org
Go to "Donate" and select our name, Stephens, Ian and Jenn SWAZILAND. The system can process USA and International cards.


Or simply mail your gift to World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate for Ian and Jenn, Fund Code #97.

Community Meetings

The main thing that we have been doing lately is community meetings. We go into each community that we serve to explain that Chips was started in 2008 because of the high death rate among children birth to 5 years of age. After a few months, Chips expanded to include adult caregivers in order to reduce the numbers of OVC's (orphaned and vulnerable children).  The criteria for adults to be in the program is being HIV+ and a parent/guardian.

Chips responsibilities include PMTCT (Preventing Mother to Child Transmission), home visits, assessments on sick clients, spiritual support, and transport to the hospital/clinic for appointments.  This is all done with the assumption that our clients take responsibility in being on time at the designated stations, to furnish us with their next appointment, and if they miss the transport, they have to get themselves to the hospital/clinic for their check-up. We also explain that Chips will not pay a client's hospital bills or funeral expenses nor is Chips a general ambulance service.

Another thing that Chips assists with is emergencies. This is an ongoing issue that must be cleared up with the people who like to call an 'emergency' for things like falling down and hurting a knee or a headache. We consider an emergency to be one of these situations, moms in labor, dehydration, seizures, breathing problems and a fever.

We finish the meetings by saying Chips is a privilege and if is abused, we could run out of funds to continue providing service. Through Chips, the clients have the privilege to receive food parcels, clothing, and blankets as we can. The meetings are well attended and we get good questions. One question that comes up often is asking if the rural health motivators are paid and the people seem surprised to find out that the rural health motivators do it out of love. Our rural health motivators are the eyes and ears of Chips in each community, alerting us to people who need our help or any issues that are going on.  They also serve as a reminder to clients to take the medications, eat, and take responsibility for themselves.  

One reason for these talks is that people move around a lot so we always have new folks.  There are a good percentage of clients who are very responsible for their health care but then we have the others who will call Jabulane or Mary at 2am with a fake emergency.  Our hope is that if everyone hears the same message they will start to take more responsibility for their own health.

After the meeting at Section 19, a Gogo (grandmother) came up to us and asked us to look at her grandson. She had taken him to 2 or3 different clinics in a month and was now out of money and he wasn't better. He had a painful tumor in his groin and was unable to walk. We did go and assessed him and told the Gogo that  we would transport him to the hospital. The little guy had had surgery and now he is doing fine.  When we went back to check on him later the Gogo was overjoyed and so thankful to God for the people in America who made this possible. We just wanted to tell you this wonderful story to show how you are impacting lives here.  The boy should be back in school in about 3 weeks. Thanks for making stories like this happen! We couldn't do what we do without your help. 

P.S. - If you want to support our ministry, the fastest way is to make an Online Donation via www.WorldOutreach.org
Go to "Donate" and select our name, Stephens, Ian and Jenn SWAZILAND. The system can process USA and International cards.
Or simply mail your gift to World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate for Ian and Jenn, Fund Code #97.