Being Gordon's second visit and Helen's first visit to this community, it was an integrated approach causing members to be curious and anxious to have the schedule extended to have more time with their visitors as they proved to be friendly and ready to listen and share any information with members willing to avail it to help them in their mission. Home visits to the PLWHAs (People Living With HIV/AIDS) and OVCs is as important as any other component of Home Based Care.

As Gordon and Helen sat with Elisha and Margaret in their small hut with Peter and Leonard helping in translation, the two were free to share their life experience with HIV/AIDS. Elisha and Margaret were so excited and could not imagine 'mzungu' (white people) sitting with them in their hut of straw with a grass roof that leaks when it rains. The two of them wonder what an embarrassment it would cause them if it happened to rain while the visitors were there. Just that brief discussion with the patients and the children offered a psychological support and gave them a lot of courage as it proved a concern of all and with no discrimination.

John Rapemo Otieno is still a force to reckon with. With him behind the drums, the Ber Bang Tich members sang and danced to the beats, welcoming Gordon and Helen in their midst. A song composed for Helen, with an accompaniment of the beats lured Helen to rise up from her seat to join the team in their folk song and dance. Not really understanding Luo words but Mary and Peter are there to translate. So amusing! Helen did not need to ask questions as Salome and John gave out personal testimonies on HIV/AIDS and a description of the Ber Bang Tich group.

Not to forget the little children at Joann's Nursery. All the schools were closed by then, but they turned up to meet their visitors as usual. They presented poems, memory verses etc. to the visitors. At the end of their short speeches, Gordon and Helen promised to do their best to share all that information with people in the UK.

Remember, just a visit to the community is of as much value to the psychological life of the members as if you would buy them a gift.

Leonard Odongo
Field Officer, Umoja CCIP

Back to Latest News