Lindsay native sends greeting from Africa

Jennifer Gaspers

Sanibonani! Hello and greetings to everyone from Swaziland. For those who don’t know me, I am Jennifer Gaspers, and I’m currently living in Swaziland Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer. I grew up outside Lindsay, NE, where my parents and brother presently reside, and am a graduate of Holy Family High School in Lindsay. I received my BA from University of South Dakota, Vermillion, and my massage therapy certification from Bio- Chi Institute in Sioux City, IA. Before coming here, I resided in Vermillion off and on for 10 years, and was active with the farmer’s market.

I’ve been living and working in a rural community in the Shiselweni region of Swaziland a little over 18 months. Peace Corps’ primary project in Swaziland is Community Health Education, specifically as it relates to HIV and AIDS. In an effort to lessen the burden of HIV in the country, a volunteer assists their community in raising awareness about the spread of HIV, the importance of early testing and prevention, especially for mothers and children, teaching life skills lessons to youth, and implementing community development projects. The Shiselweni Region, the most economically depressed region, is also the hardest hit by the HIV epidemic, as well as a rising TB epidemic.

In July, the clinic in my community approached me about funding to finish their building project. The proposed project is for two semi-detached, two bedroom houses for staff lodging. Due to the large influx of patients to the clinic since the rise of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the clinic staff, consisting of 3 nurses, is overwhelmed. My community’s clinic serves people from seven chiefdoms; the population totals just over 7,550 people. On average, the clinic serves 50 – 100 people from 8am – noon and about 20 people from 1 – 3pm, Monday thru Friday, giving nurses little time to adequately devote to each patient. Additional nurses would greatly improve services, especially for HIV+ patients taking ARV treatment—Antiretroviral Treatment. Currently these patients travel at least 20 km (12 mi) to refill their prescriptions since the clinic is not equipped to handle the numbers—a problem because most people struggle to pay for transport. The other options include not seeing a nurse or doctor or seeking assistance from traditional healers, who may exacerbate their conditions with inappropriate treatment— problematic options because people don’t get the medication or treatment they desperately need. If a person taking ARV’s continually starts and stops treatment, their body develops drug-resistance to the medication, leading to treatment failure in the future.

The Clinic Committee has requested two more nurses from the Ministry of Health; hence they are responsible for providing housing. The Clinic Committee decided to use a portion of patient fees, which took two years to accumulate, to partially build one of the houses last year. As of August, the base of both houses has been poured, and the frame and walls of the first house are complete; they had only enough money to pay the contractor for the first house.

Seeing their great need and the likely benefit to the communities the clinic serves, I helped the committee apply for a Peace Corps Partnership Grant. The grant, which is reviewed by Peace Corps Headquarters in D.C., was approved in November. At present, the grant is in the money raising stage, and anyone is welcome to help. A donation to my partnership is tax deductible, and any amount is appreciated and helpful. Here’s an example of how a little goes a long way: Patient fees are E3/person per visit, an equivalent of less than $.50. A mere $20 (or E140) would displace patient fees for 46 people.

To donate log on to www.peacecorps.gov. Click on “Donate” on the left. Enter my last name. A list of volunteer projects will appear. Scroll down to Swaziland and my last name. Click on the project, and then follow the directions on the right to make a donation.

If you’re interested in following my life in Swaziland, feel free to read my blog: http://jenniferlynn75@ blogspot.com.  My new life in Swaziland is not without challenges or incredible learning experiences. Some days are a struggle, to say the least. However, most days are gratifying, enjoyable even, and I would not trade this opportunity for anything in the world. I welcome questions, comments and encouragement. My access to internet is limited so expect delays.

I hope this finds you happy and well. The traditional goodbye in siSwati is salani kahle, bangani wami: Stay well, my friends or hambani kahle, bangani wami, Go well my friends.

Stay well and go well, my friends.