Let's Stomp Out Malaria

April 25^th is World Malaria Day.  Most people around the world (including myself before I came to Zambia) are just not informed about malaria.   Malaria is the BIGGEST killer in the continent of Africa.  The World Health Organization reported in 2010, that 91% of deaths from Malaria around the world occurred in Africa.  Approximately 660,000 people died from malaria that year.  If you do the math, that is still almost 600,000 deaths in Africa due to the malaria parasite.  And most of those deaths, occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa.  Which hey, that is where I AM!  Zambia! Praise be praise be!

My catchment area of Siachitema, which consists of five villages, and one clinic, has 2,000 + people.  At my clinic, there is ALWAYS someone suffering from malaria.  Usually they do not come in until they are already in the later stages of the disease (which are pretty terrible).

 When I talk to villagers, most tell me they have had malaria AT LEAST one time in their life.  In fact most have had it SEVERAL times.  My host father Wesley has had it about 4 times, and my brother Eric has had it three times.  

Malaria is caused from a parasite transmitted by the female Anopheles mosquito. That’s right, only the female mosquito can transmit the malaria parasite.  Interesting right? Anyways, malaria is transmitted first from a human to an insect, then to a human again through a bite.   The malaria parasite is transmitted into your blood, and then is stored in your liver. Usually, the female mosquito carrying the parasite does not come out until around 11pm.  Once bitten, you do not experience the malaria symptoms for about two weeks.

The symptoms of malaria usually present themselves somewhat like the common cold or flu.  First you may feel tired, some achiness, or a headache.  Suddenly, you find yourself in more pain then you have ever had the misfortune to experience.  Patients with malaria feel cold then hot or visa versa, experience extreme shaking, an excruciating headache, muscle pains, or all of these things at the same time.  The most deadly form of malaria is called ‘cerebral malaria’ which is caused by the Plasmodium Falciparum Parasite.    I personally have never seen this form of malaria, but it is usually fatal and presents itself like malaria but with more neurological symptoms.  

A few weeks ago at my clinic, I gave a malaria blood test to a young woman who happens to be a neighbor of mine.  She was shaking uncontrollably, crying, and just in tremendous pain.  Obviously she had malaria, and the test came back positive a few minutes later.   She was immediately given the treatment  of  ‘quinine,’ which helps reverse the effects of malaria.  I was happy to see her on the bushpath on my bike ride home from teaching English a couple days later.

This scenario is not uncommon.   In the village, some people do not get treated for malaria and unfortunately pass away.  Children under 5 years old, HIV infected people, and the elderly are more susceptible to being killed by malaria.  Left untreated, malaria can be fatal.  

The main reason people get malaria in my village is lack of education.   The main way to prevent getting malaria is sleeping protected under a mosquito net.   Mosquito nets were given out to EVERY family in my village a year ago by an NGO.   Sadly, villagers use them in inappropriate ways.  Instead of hanging them over their beds, they are used as fishing nets...

Unfortunately, people simply are uneducated about the causes of malaria.  Some people even believe witchcraft is the cause, or HIV, or eating an unripe mango.  It is so important, that villagers are educated about the true cause of malaria, and that they use their mosquito nets EVERY night.  I was so surprised to find even educated people in my village, NOT using their mosquito nets.   When I asked a teacher why she fails to use a mosquito net, she simply said malaria is part of being in Africa.  This is absolutely untrue; Malaria is totally preventable by getting under a mosquito net before 11pm daily and using mosquito repellants like DEET.  It is horribly frustrating when people have mosquito nets and do not use them properly! 

One of my focuses at my school is teaching malaria prevention through English instruction.  I hope somehow, I can make a difference in the way pupils in my school view malaria.  And hopefully, they can help spread the word to friends and family deep in the village.  I also hope to work more with my clinic in my free time, and work on strategies to inform members of the Siachitema community about malaria prevention.  Just giving mosquito nets out is not going to stop the malaria epidemic.  Education is a vital component of prevention of any disease.  

In North America, malaria has been eradicated since 1951.  So the thought of malaria has been wiped out from the American consciousness. Sure, Americans experience mosquito bites.  But it ends there.  Mosquito bites in America are itchy and uncomfortable, but they do not hurt you, cause you to get sick, or impact your family in any real way.  It is not like that for thousands of people around the world.  Malaria is a deadly problem that causes REAL destruction in the lives of countless people.  I only hope that more people are educated about this killer parasitic disease and think about what THEY can do to help prevent it!   Let’s STOMP OUT MALARIA! 

 stomp out malaria

Do you like Ed Helms?  Check this out :)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WcCV0uGqMVI

DISCLAIMER:  The contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.

2013: Bring it On!

One year. 
  
It has been one hell of a roller-coaster ride since I stepped on that airplane at SEATAC to my unknown future in Zambia.  Oh how my life has changed since that day...

Since January 26^th, 2012 I have learned one Bantu language, moved to a village into a thatched roof hut with no electricity, running water, or any modern conveniences that we are all so accustomed to.  

I taught 8^th grade English for the first time in my life, and assembled a library with hundreds of books. I have learned how to cultivate fields using cattle and a plow, and plant maize. I have learned how to make food with nothing but charcoal and a brazier.  I am an expert on drawing water from a well and carrying said water (btw which has resulted in super buff arms).   

Leaving before dawn to Lake Kariba.

I have been riding a bike 6 kilometers every day to school.   I went on a massive bike ride with my Peace Corps buddies for 78 kilometers!  I thought I might pass out midway through that one.  

Throughout this year I have lost 50 pounds, killed 2 cobras and one green mamba, eaten caterpillars, termites, giant rats (R.O.U.S's), and many other things (not in this particular order).

I have seen children who have nothing wear the biggest smiles on their faces.  You see,  in my village, kids have to walk up to 15 kilometers (one way) to get to school in the morning.  That means, they have to wake up around 4am and begin jogging to school (sometimes barefoot) through small streams and mud.   They get to school around 6:45, clean the school grounds, go to class, clean, run home, work in their family’s fields, cook dinner, boil water for bathing, take a bath, and do it all over again the next day.

The road to school.  It is rainy season now, so I am definitely loving the green! 

Most of these kids in the lower grades do not have food to eat during lunch breaks.  Backpacks, pens, pencils, and even books to learn with are absolute luxuries.  They go home to huts without modern lighting to do homework at night.  And honestly, can you blame them for not doing homework?  I would be exhausted. 

But STILL, these kids come to school despite all of these obstacles and limitations.  And most TRY to better themselves. Zambian students in the village have such different lives from American kids.  Zambia is just so different.  I wish I could find a way to articulate the ways. 

 

All I can say for certain is, I am forever changed.

One thing that I have learned from this experience is that you really don’t need that much to be happy.  After this, no matter what, I will be fine.  You know that saying “The things you own end up owning you?”  Well, that applied to me so much before coming here.  I was constantly obsessed with getting the newest, fastest, and best technology, spending hours online, watching the newest hit TV shows and movies, and basically doing so many things that had no real meaning to me.  Sure, those things are great fun, but really, I was taking part in those things way too much.   I had succumbed to the worst aspects of the American lifestyle.   Here, my lifestyle has completely altered from what it once was.

Ah...Sunrise over a tobacco field. 

I have learned to sit in silence.  Not only by myself, but with other people as well.  During a funeral amongst the Tonga tribe, it is customary to sit with the closest family member to the deceased.  You don’t have to say anything, you just with them.  I will never forget going to a neighbor’s funeral, and sitting with the deceased’s sister.  I walked into this hut, and literally sat on the floor with this woman for an hour in silence.  And you know what? It was okay!  You don’t have to constantly fill the silence…

Instead of watching TV, I will read a book, jam out on the guitar, go fetch water, lay in my hammock, or work on my garden.  Sometimes, I will just go for a walk to the damn nearby and just watch the breathtaking sunsets.  I have learned to find peace and freedom in the silence, to just breathe.

Gotta love kids...

I taught term 3 by myself last year for grade eight. 
Now I have been given two completely new classes.  My new responsibility is one grade 6 English class, and one grade 8 English class.  I am starting with them from the very beginning, which is going to be amazing!  My grade 6 students have such a great attitude, and honestly seem to be learning so fast!  I am foreseeing some problems, because there are about 13 books for a class of 45.  It is going to get really tricky…  And grade 8 will be a little bit easier this time around, since I have already taught that grade before.  

I am introducing a new club to the school.  GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) camp was a huge success.  Thank you all for your donations to our grant!  The
7^th grade girl I brought to the camp (Catherine) is going to be an excellent role model for the girls in my GLOW club.  Unfortunately, the other girl I brought (Mildred) moved to a new village.  But I have high hopes for Catherine.  She is a bit more shy, but I am sure she will grow a lot over the course of this year, and her time with me.  She is in my grade 8A English class, and has been one of the only ones raising her hand so far.  So I see great potential with her.  I can’t wait to get started this week with GLOW club!!!!

My girls, counterpart, and myself at Camp GLOW learning about Zambia's Wildlife at the Lion Encounter

I hope to write soon! I have been very bad about writing blogs and writing in my journal.  My new year’s resolution is to write more down and to take more pictures!  

Until next time!  As we say in Zambia, BE FREE!  

Love,

Amanda

My baamama and I on the canter ride back from town to my village.

Bush babies, bicycles, and EDUCATION oh my!

Hello AMELIKA!

My time in Zambia has been a whirlwind of CRAZY adventures so far.  I just finished community entry in my village, which is the three month entry period where you are pretty much learning about your community and its people, practicing your language, and determining your community’s needs. If you can believe it, I have already been in country for 6 months.  The next 21 months is going to FLY BY. 

 My village’s name is Siamabele, just outside of Siachitema village.  I am having an absolute crazy time adjusting to life in the village.  So far my time has mainly been spent at the basic school in Siachitema.  I have been observing and co-teaching with another Zambian teacher, and solo-teaching two grade 8 English classes (with about 30-60 pupils in each class depending on the day).  In September term 3 starts. I will be teaching those two sections of English by myself, and follow them through grade 9. I can’t wait to be in charge of my own class, and not have to worry about co-teaching any more.  Co-teaching was, well, an interesting experience….

VILLAGE LIFE. I have met a few of the Headmen, which are the village leaders under the Chief.  We have discussed plans for September, which include a women’s group that will take place in my chikuta (a big open walled hut 15 feet from my hut).  I hope to also have an adult literacy club, which might also be part of the women’s group.Two birds one stone right?

During my community entry I spent a lot of time at home in my mud hut.  Just a lot of reading and chilling out in my village.  I have become quite the reader as of late.  Finished two 1000 page books (Sword of Truth series),  two Chelsea Handler books, and one Jane Austen novel (who doesn’t need a little Austin?) Life in the hut is pretty peaceful.   I am enjoying not having all of the distractions of life in America.   I like the quiet.  I am finding a lot of time for self-reflection and writing music.  Wait till I come back and release my album.  Ha! No, seriously...

There have been a few problems with my hut itself so far.   The occasional bush baby and giant rat have put a genuine hatred for vermen into my very soul.  R.O.U.S. anyone?  Where is Westley to fight them off?)   Ever since getting my cat Toby, that situation has gotten a LOT better.

Apparently the builders of my hut were expecting the volunteer the size of Frodo Baggins, which just isn’t me.  So while I am gone in August, they are going to completely tear it down, make the doorways higher, re-grass the roof, and put new crossbeams up. 

Food.  Food here has been an adjustment.  The staple food is nshima, which is ground up mealy meal from maize, boiled in water, until it has a mashed potatoes consistency.  It is eaten by hand with a relish like rape (sort of like collard greens, I know, crazy name for a vegetable), cabbage, pumpkin leaves, village chicken, or small fish called kapenta.  Vegetables are especially good with pounded ground nuts…yummmm!   I eat nshima and a relish every night for dinner with my host family.  It is delicious to me now, but in the beginning I could not stomach it.  It gave me a LOT of stomach issues…

LANGUAGE.  My Chi-Tonga has gotten progressively worse since being in the village.  Which is strange.  I definitely need to get a tutor in September...  People always want me to speak in English, so I think my local language has suffered in the process.  I can greet people until the cows come home though. Haha.

SCHOOL.  The schools in Zambia are completely different from schools in the US.  It is much like being in England, 100 years ago.  If you can imagine that?  A lot of the pupils have to walk up to 20 kilometres to get to school, and many of these kids do not have shoes… The mornings here in the cold season are absolutely freezing.  I honestly don’t know how they do it.  It has to be painful…  Also many pupils wake up at 4am just to go to school, and don’t head home until around 5pm.  Which also means they are not only exhausted, but hungry as well. There is no school lunch provided obviously, and if kids do bring something, it is usually a bottle of chimbwantu, a local drink, which is made pounded grits of maize, mixed with water, and if they are lucky, sugar.  The conditions are rough, to say the least.

At the basic school, I have been spending my time  organizing a library.  The volunteer before me had hundreds of books shipped from the states.  So I have been trying to categorize and log them.  This will be a great resource for the school, since there is not really much of a reading culture amongst the pupils.  For example, most kids have not seen a picture book.  I remember in my first few weeks at the school, during club time I took grade 8 and 9 students and just read to them Stella Luna (which FYI most kids could not grasp the idea of a talking bat).  They laughed and laughed, because they had never seen a picture book before.  I think these books will be fantastic for encouraging English learning.  They were SO into listening to me read those books, I am sure they will love sitting by themselves and reading once the library is set up.

My eight grade students! Well, some of them....

A lot of people in the states keep asking me what they can do to help the kids at my school.  A big issue is hygiene, so if you can donate things like toothbrushes or toothpaste I would love to give them out (of course after we talk about dental hygiene etc…).  Families simply cannot afford to buy a toothbrush and toothpaste.  Also things like, soap, and vaseline do wonders….

 The government issues them one notebook and one pen once a term. Education is not free.  So a lot of my kids don’t have a proper pen or pencil to work with, they run out of ink … So if you would like to send pens and pencils that would be fantastic.  The notebooks they become worn out easily because the quality is not so good, so it may be nice to have an “in class notebook” that will remain at school.  They can use that to practice their English, by writing their own stories etc.  A big problem I have seen in my school is most kids have a hard time using their imagination to come up with their own thoughts, stories, etc…  I would love them to have a place to jot down their thoughts and dreams during class, without the fear of being judged or reprimanded if they are not using proper English. 

I will be running a camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) with other Southern Province volunteers in December.  It is a great program designed to teach young girls how to run their own girls club in their communities.  ASAP I will have a link, where you can donate $ directly through your credit card etc. to our project.  We will need money to send girls to the camp.  The money you contribute will pay for transport, the lodging, and food etc.  I will bring 2 girls from my school, so this is a way you will be able to directly help me in my school.  More info to come!!!!!!  

If you would like to send me things for the pupils or myself, my address is:

Amanda Eilefson

PO Box 630569

Choma, Zambia

If you want to text or call me my cell number is +260976171521  ( I hear Skype calling is cheaper?)

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has written to me or shipped things to ZamZam.  It is so nice reading a letter from a loved one, or having American food every once in a while, especially when I am missing home.  Can’t you just picture me eating some mac and cheese in front of my hut, while the sun is setting behind my huge musiwe tree?  The clothes have also been so useful.  Clothes tend to fall apart here for some reason. Rah-ro!  Must be all the hand-washing  and hanging… On another note, I am so sorry that some of the letters I sent months ago were lost in the mail.  Some have been returned to me (which is SO frustrating, I have NO idea why).  Anywho, I just sent them out again.  They are months overdue!!!!!  So, you know who you are… Be on the lookout for mail from me. 

Last month I was finally able to do some of the touristy things in Zambia.  I got to see the magnificent Victoria Falls.  It truly was breathtakingly beautiful.  Not to mention all of the cool vervet monkeys and baboons running around.  They were AWESOME.  I also was able to take a trip up to Lochnivar National Park.  We, the Southern Province RED (Rural Education Development, sorry for all the acronyms, it’s a Peace Corps thing) crew ended up staying at a BAR, and hiring a park ranger to take us around.  That’s Zam life for you.  Things always work out, just not how you expect them to… Anywho, the picts are on facebook if you wanna check them out!  LINK:  www.facebook.com/amandaeilefson

This week I head to IST (In Service Training), which will be held in Lusaka.  I will be with all my old buddies from training again for two weeks.  How much fun will that be?  Then after that I am going on vacation in Malawi for a week, to Lake Malawi.  Can’t wait to see that!  I plan on traveling a LOT while I am in Africa, I want to hit up as many countries as I can.   In fact, next year we are planning a trip to Tanzania.  I can’t wait to see the Indian Ocean and Mt. Kilimanjaro. 

Anywho guys, I really am having a life changing experience here.  The cycling and food alone have caused a complete change in my body and mind.  I am having such a realexperience.  Life is at its most basic here, and I feel like I am truly alive for the first time.  I think back in America I was just existing, but here I am really living.  It has put a lot of things in perspective for me, and I think now I know, no matter what, I will always be okay.  No matter what job I come back to in the states, I will be fine.  You really do only need food, water, and love.  Everything else is just fluff.   Until next time my friends…

Love,

Amanda/Cholwe (my Tonga name)

``Do something scary, the payoff is awesome.``

What I will be doing in Zambia

Peace Corps volunteers first were introduced to Zambia in 1994 doing water/sanitation projects. Now Zambia has one of the highest concentrations of Peace Corps volunteers in all of Africa, with approximately 245 volunteers serving at different posts. Other programs include Community Health (CHIP), Rural Aquaculture (RAP), Linking Income, Food & The Environment (LIFE), and finally my program: Rural Education Development (RED).

 I will be co-teaching and working as an English teacher in anywhere from one to several different schools. This will include riding a bike up to 20 kilometers a day! Wooo! I guess I'll get in shape one way or another!

I will be trained for three months in what is called Pre-Service Training (PST). This will take place in the capital city of Lusaka. During this time I will be living with a host family either in the city, or a little outside the city.

During PST, I will be trained to teach English as a Second Language in a primary classroom (grades 1-9). This includes intensive language learning of one of the seven bantu languages.

After the three months of training, I will be sworn in as an official Peace Corps volunteer, and start my journey living in rural Zambia: The Real Africa. And oh, did I mention I'll be living in a hut...

I can't believe that I am finally leaving! This whole process started nearly two years ago. Now after going through so many hoops, I finally get to leave on this fantastic journey. Thanks everyone for helping me get here! Much love! -Amanda