Break the Silence; Stop the Conspiracy

May 17-

Today we stayed close to home, as our destinations were located in Morogoro. Considering our course is entitled The Global AIDS Crisis, it would make sense that we spend some time looking and and considering the disease itself and all the issues that go with it. Downtown Morogoro is a fairly busy place. Lots of people, several small vendors and all kinds of sights/sounds catch your senses as you drive through. Located within all the commotion is a special organization called Faraja. This organization started out as a response to the AIDS crisis that occurred in Tanzania a few decades ago, when AIDS was still considered a "gay disease." While we now know how one gets AIDS (and how one does not), there is still a high stigma here for people that contract the HIV virus. There are several reasons for this, as well as several reasons regarding the high transmission rate in Tanzania, but let's get back to Faraja itself.

We arrived at the main office and spent some time talking with and asking questions of the main director. We learned about the different branches and outreach services someone can seek through Faraja and what exactly goes on. While Faraja was started as just a HIV/AIDS organization, it has now branched out to help with poverty, some womens' rights advocacy (it's still in progress), and has a big role in both orphaned and HIV+ children. After our Qand A session, we headed to two separate street schools. These schools take children that come to them off the streets that are either orphans or social orphans and give them the education and some skills they need to survive in the world and get into higher levels of education. The kids learn Swahili, English, Geography, Math, Science, Health, etc, and also get a meal provided to them during they day and a place to play with other children. We donated a soccer ball to each school as well as a laptop, and we got to meet the students and teachers at each school. The students promised us that they wanted to work hard and do well, and they really wanted to make us proud of them. I totally would have taken a few home with me... and they were willing to come... Our last stop before lunch was a home-outreach center. The center provides counseling (pre and post-HIV testing), HIV testing, and specifically does home visits and works with children. Each month they try to have a big meal and game day for all of the kids they have, so that they can come and enjoy a safe place together, without having to be ashamed or alone.

Lunch was at a restaurant in town, and we all got to order our own food off the menu. It was a little difficult to pick, but we all ended up with good food, and it was a fun experience to eat out as a group.

That night after dinner we talked about AIDS/HIV transmission and why it's so high. Some of the reasons we came up with/have found to be true are:
-condom use is relatively low still
-women cannot ask about sex partners of their spouse
-women belong to their husbands
-sex workers are very prominent
-nutrition is often an issue, so immune systems are the best
-STDS are common
-stigma is still a big player

AIDS is a big problem in Tanzania, but there is always hope. ARV's (Anti-retro virals) are available to anyone that can get to a center to pick them up for free, education is becoming more prominent, and women are slowly being given more than a beating. Working together with people and breaking the silence about AIDS and the stigmas it carries are our best warriors in this battle.