NIFES (and other updates)

Over the past week and a half, we’ve finally had a chance to connect with staff and students of Nigerian International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (NIFES), a sister movement of college students to InterVarsity-USA. Last Sunday, we went to a Large Group meeting of Vet students. It was a lively fellowship of about 60 students where we could tell they enjoyed meeting together and sharing God’s work in their lives. We spent two days this past week at the headquarters here in Jos. We’ve been graciously welcomed in by folks who’ve also hosted Francis F, Ann C, Jeanette Y, and others from our Madison IV community. It’s like meeting up with extended family. Ryan led out of Ephesians at their chapel, and I shared from Daniel tonight at a meeting of NIFES alumni and supporters. Ryan has been working on promotional materials for their tri-annual missions conference in Nov 2007. We’ve been officially invited back, and are excited about the possibility of returning to Jos to serve again with Faith Alive and NIFES. I’ve met with their coordinator for HIV/AIDS awareness and share in his passion to bring correct and holistic information to college students and provide them with an opportunity to be tested. Less than 10% of Nigerian college students know their status, and many still have misinformation about HIV and STIs. I’ve dreamt of the possibility of a partnership between 2-3 US college students coming to volunteer in the area of HIV/AIDS awareness and testing among fellow Nigerian college students, and secondly, perhaps also raising funds to enable testing of all 6000 students from West Africa who will be at next Nov’s conference.
Regarding other things we’ve been up to, I’ve finished the first draft of “Expansion of HIV-1 Screening and Anti-Retroviral Treatment Programs in a Resource-Poor Setting: Results from a Faith-based Organization in Nigeria.” I look forward to Dr. Chris’ comments. Ryan is working steadily on the 2nd Edition of “Touching Lives,” a full-color 28-page magazine highlighting the 10th anniversary of the ministry of Faith Alive, as well as the video of personal stories of how people infected and affected by HIV.
And lest you think it’s been all work and no rest for us, we enjoyed a nice hike yesterday at the highest place in Jos, Shere Hills (including a little free climbing near the top,). It was great to be out of the city for a bit. We’ve also had delicious grilled Tilapia from a roadside stand, met with Carmen for lunch on Thursday, and haven’t yet tired of wonderfully ripe mangos on a near daily basis.

Wrandom Writings #3

I was once told that my head is 'not just a hat rack'. This is true. It is a convenient carrying place for all sorts of things besides hats. You can put ten pineapples up there. Or 20 gallons of gasoline. Heads are amazingly useful, and in America, underutilized, appendages. Why, in Madison, I hardly ever see people carrying cinder blocks on their heads. Why is that? Carrying things with your arms is such a waste of energy. I know I'll never make that mistake again. Next time you see me, I'll be kicking it with my computer bag on my head. After all, heads are for more than hats . . .

HIV awareness

One of the great strengths of FA is the collective life that is thriving within the Support Group. Coming out and sharing their testimonies is a challenging step to decreasing the stigma around HIV/AIDS. Members have committed to doing what they can to help others understand HIV and be tested to know their status. Their message and witness are clear: HIV is not a death sentence. The group regularly has opportunities to do HIV awareness. As an example, yesterday, the Support Group was invited to participate in a Special Lecture on AIDS/HIV and General Health sponsored by the Women's Wing of a local mosque in Jos. Members of the group, a mixed-group of Muslims and Christians, gave testimonies of living with HIV and led a discussion on methods of transmission and ways to prevent the spread of HIV. HIV was explained as a condition that must be taken seriously, and importantly, can be treated but not cured. An emphasis was placed on sexual education of youth, including HIV testing before marriage, and disclosure of status to spouses. They encouraged all present, especially the leaders, to be tested to know their status, and trained in HIV awareness so that they can counsel members of their community. One of FA's pastors emphasized that even if someone is HIV-positive, God will not desert them. The remark was made that it was amazing that Christians were welcomed into a mosque to share on this topic. Indeed, even as a Christian-based organization, the group seemed to be well-received and appreciated for its role in talking about HIV to reduce stigma and raise awareness of ways people can prevent and seek treated for HIV/AIDS.

HIV and Men

Sunday’s FA support group debate topic was “Why are men dying silently?” Easily ninety percent of support group attendees are female. Roughly 70% of voluntary counseling and HIV testing done at FA is requested by women. Many women find out they are positive after the death of their husbands from undiagnosed AIDS. Here in Jos, there is agreement that the HIV epidemic will not cease until effective ways of reaching and treating men are found. Reasons for the silence men keep are complex. We heard rumors of very rich men who pay to have doctors supply medications outside of hospitals so their status remains unknown; another accounted that her husband took pills for “typhoid” rather than disclose his status to her. The stigma felt by many HIV-positive people is tremendous. A man may even be stigmatized by his wife or close family.

Challenges were made for married women to invite their husbands to the support group. Discouraged women were challenged to never cease praying for their “drunkard, smoking, always going out” loved ones. Attendees were encouraged to speak with their pastors about how church families need to do more to support HIV-positive members. For my part, I was humbled to serve as the “doctor” on the panel as I was challenged to respond to, “what will our society be like if men continue dying in silence?” Beyond major expansion of ARV therapy, the ultimate health of the community depends on the living examples of HIV-affected people telling their stories in ways that others can hear and follow.

Wrandom Writings #2

So you've been saying to yourself, "Gee, I sure wish there were more goats around here!" Haven't we all thought that at some time? Well, Jos is where the goats are at. There are goats everywhere you look -- goats crossing the road, goats peering out of windows, goats jumping out of alleys. Where do they come from? Who do they belong to? And what are they doing over there . . . that's disgusting. Anyway, goats are clearly the most popular local source of red meat. They can eat anything, live anywhere, and they don't taste too bad after all. I'm surprised we don't see more of them in Madison. They are natural environmentalists, eating all the garbage they can find and converting it into natural fertilizer. So next time you feel a need for a companion, forget the Labrador -- get yourself a goat. I know where you can get one real cheap.

Halfway

We’ve had another very good week here in Jos, about halfway through our time here. Our experience here resembles an international-student internship of sorts as we learn and work in a different culture alongside other committed professionals. Altogether, we’re very grateful for this opportunity to live in Jos and serve at Faith Alive. We can see the benefit of our flexible help and specific skills, and thoroughly appreciate the generous hospitality of Dr. Chris and others in hosting us here.

Our work is progressing well. Ryan has a rough-cut of a “Voices” video composed of interviews he’s done with FA staff members discussing their personal experiences being diagnosed with HIV, the effect of their status on their lives and family, and the strong source of support that FA has been for them, and allowed them to be for others. Beyond statistics and public health goals, organizations, and outcomes, the most significant costs of this disease are on individuals and families.

Tomorrow, I’ll lead part of the weekly support group for HIV-infected persons. I will be facilitating a “debate,” which in my understanding is posing a question, like “Is it good or bad to tell your church/community about your HIV status?” and then members discuss aspects of the question back and forth. Although much of it is in Hausa (of which I’ve learned only a tiny amount), I trust that it will be helpful to those who come. For the next few weeks, Ryan will be involved each morning assisting in teaching the incoming Computer Skills class, which is part of FA’s Social Services arm that teaches skills like sewing and knitting to HIV+ people.

Thanks to everyone who has e-mailed or commented; it's nice to know you're out there!

Wrandom Writings (#1 in a series)

I'm sure you've asked yourself recently, "It's all well and good to cruise around Jos in the clinic vehicle like you do, Hillary and Ryan, but what of the rest of us? How are we to navigate the streets of Jos?" Well, friend, you are in luck. Jos has the most efficient public transportation system on the planet. It is remarkably simple, combining two elements Nigeria has in abundance: cheap Chinese motorbikes and people willing to risk their lives for less than a dollar a day. For 20 naira (about 7 cents) you can go anywhere in the city, and there are so many motorbikes that you will never have to wait more than 6.3 seconds to get a ride. Got two or three people? No problem. Need to carry a 19" television or a stack of 15 ft. steel rods with you? Think nothing of it! There really is only one downside to this remarkable system -- a statistically significant chance of becoming a permanent part of Nigeria's road system. Dr. Isichei notes that there is a ward in Jos's main hospital just for motorbike injuries, and they see about twenty each day. So when you come to Jos, bring your helmet and motorcycle chaps, and hit the road the Nigerian way (link for photo). . .

An update, finally.

1) Faith Alive Hospital – the ground floor is almost complete. The plan is to use five rooms on the first floor, hopefully by next week to see patients each day. It’s good to see progress happening toward the completion of the building, though many of us are anxious to see the building done soon.
2) Ryan – Slow but steady progress is happening with the three main projects I’m working on: the magazine, brochure and video. I’ve filmed and transcribed a couple more interviews with FA staff, and they have great things to say. I think these stories will help bring to light certain issues of living with HIV that most Americans (including me, before the last two weeks) have ever considered.
3) Hillary – This past week I started writing a scientific manuscript summarizing HIV screening, ARV treatment, and patient outcomes at FA for the first 12 months of the PEPFAR program. It’s great to be able to use my research training to help Dr. Chris share his work in this way, as well as to help manage his patients each evening in clinic.
4) Our living arrangements – we moved on Saturday into an apartment that Dr. Chris has arranged for volunteers to stay at. We share a 4-bedroom place with Biana Grogg, and have come to appreciate the few hours a day that the electricity comes on.

By way of comparison… (Written last Thurs, but the rains have knocked down the antennae used for transmitting, so it’s been hard to post, in the infrequent times we’ve had electricity.)
As Americans, we spend a lot of time reflecting on similarities and differences between what we know of Nigeria, with respect to the U.S. So, a few random musings…
1) Public health crises. In Nigeria, undernourishment, along with constant needs for the basic provisions of life, is very common. Lack of clean water and electricity, not to mention jobs and affordable education, leaves many in society without any margin or reserve, esp. when exploited by AIDS. In America, obesity is arguably our #1 public health concern, sometimes related to over-consumption of food (as well as material goods and workaholism).
2) A full and free health care clinic. Faith Alive Hospital aims to provide as much help as they can to those who need it most. Thus, patients receive care, medications, counseling, food, transport money, skills training, and even surgery or housing, if possible for FA assist in these ways. In America, we may feel the insurance we have is inadequate, or for 44 million who don’t have any, my naïve view is that the “health care system” lacks compassion and thus, hesitates to try to help. I think there are few places where the “least of these” are truly welcomed as brothers and offered compassionate assistance in a sustainable way.
3) Poverty. Most Nigerians believe America is purely a land flowing of milk and honey. We do have poverty in the U.S, though it is less common and less extreme than it is here in Nigeria. However, why do we so commonly assume it is the fault of those who are poor in the U.S.? In Nigeria, it is easy to see that poverty results from the lack of honest and just governmental provision.
Inspite of the fire and the rains, the incomplete hospital building and the daily challenges of life in Nigeria, patients continue to consistently seek and find care provided through the Christ-centered medical and social ministry of Faith Alive.