Hanavan Shares Experiences From Six Months In Uganda

from the East Aurora Advertiser

by Alex Nye

In 1971, Idi Amin Dada took control of Uganda in a military coup. He became a tyrannical dictator who oversaw political repression, ethnic persecution, and terrible violations of human rights. During his eight years of power, it is estimated that he killed nearly half-a-million people.

Despite Uganda's unpopular portrayal in documentaries and Hollywood movies, it is a friendly country with much untapped potential. However, there are still many problems, including malnutrition, dire poverty and AIDS. Ugandans have had to live with this unfair historical stigma associated with Idi Amin. The landlocked African country is far from modernized-many villages do not have clean water or electricity.

Kim Hanavan, an East Aurora resident and recent graduate of SUNY Geneseo, spent the last six months in Nsanja, a small village in Uganda, in a program set up by Global Volunteer Network. She returned home in March with many insights from her experiences.

Before she went to Uganda, though, Hanavan admitted that she was somewhat surprised by what she discovered.

"Having never been to Africa before, I did not know what to expect," said Hanavan. "I didn't know if I would be able to help. And I didn't know that I would feel as comfortable as I did. I felt safe. I felt the kindness of the people there. They were always looking to help me, looking out for me."

Once in Nsanja, Hanavan partnered with a local program called Community Development and AIDS Prevention Services (CDAPS). She lived in the home of the founder, David, and his family in the village.

Nsanja is rather small. Hanavan estimates that there are about 500 people living in the dusty village. There is no electricity and no running water. People, typically women and children, have to walk about 10 minutes to get fresh water from the well, which still has to be boiled over an open-flame stove.

What Nsanja has plenty of, they do not want. In the small community, there are at least 42 known residents with HIV. Many others have not been tested. It is an epidemic.

"Most clinics in the area do free testing," told Hanavan, "but most people won't do it. They either cannot get to the clinic or they do not want to be tested. We had one screening where 115 people came, of which 64 were tested. Fortunately, only four people were [HIV] positive."

While there, Hanavan became attached to a small boy and his sister. They are both very young, elementary school ages. They live at home with their grandmother (who is forced to watch her 12 grandkids with no help from the parents). They have HIV. Hanavan suspects that others in their family are also HIV positive, but they refuse to be tested. They say they do not want to know that they are going to die young.

The community program does more than test people. It is meant to teach people how to avoid risky behavior that could cause the spread of HIV, how to prevent it, and, if you are found to have HIV, how to live your life accordingly.

"People were more likely to get tested when they found out that we continue to counsel them after they are tested. We teach them how to handle their life. At a clinic, we showed people a two-hour video on HIV. I thought that it might be too long, that we should break it up. I was told it would not be a problem for them to sit there. They had never seen a TV before. It was the first time they saw moving pictures."

People in Nsanja have also never seen stoves. They do their cooking in a large pot over an open flame. It can take a long time to cook and it can also be quite dangerous. Another project with which Hanavan helped was to make earthen stoves that would contain the flames, retain heat, and consequently use less firewood.

Malaria and other diseases are still an enormous problem in Africa. Malaria can be prevented and is treatable. Most people, however, just cannot afford the prevention.

"Malaria is pretty big all over Uganda," explained Hanavan. "It is easy to prevent and cure though. I took medicine to prevent it. But a lot of people die from it because they cannot afford the cure."

One easy precaution is a mosquito net, which typically costs $6. Some families are too poor and can buy only one. At night, they have to decide who gets to sleep under the net. Thanks to a grant, Hanavan was able to purchase and distribute nearly 100 new nets, and teach families to give the nets to those who are most susceptible to malaria, such as pregnant women and children.

A little can go a long way, though. Ballpoint pens, which were given to the school children, will make taking tests easier. Students won't have to get up during the exam to ask their brother if they can borrow the family pen.

"Every pen made a huge difference," recounted Hanavan. "I once saw one boy trying to write with the ink cartridge from the inside of a pen because he had nothing else to write with. Now they don't have to worry about how they can even take their exams, let alone pass them."

In addition to the mosquito nets, stoves, and AIDS testing, Hanavan, along with CDAPS, helped build hygienic latrines, repair the old schoolhouse, share pen pals with students from the States, and started a self-sustaining goat project, which gave families two goats and two chickens and taught them farming techniques.

Hanavan is satisfied with her experience in Africa, but knows that there is still so much more to be done.

"There is no easy way to change their situation," she said. "Sometimes you don't even know how to change it. It is overwhelming. They need so much. I think taking baby steps can do it. Everyone can make a difference."

Although much was accomplished over the six months, there is still so much more to be done in Nsanja and the rest of Uganda. They are a friendly nation, but due to horrific crimes committed against them and other major setbacks, they still need our help.

For information on how to donate, go to www.therealuganda.com.