HIV AIDS Meeting the Challenge in Kumbo

Travelling to Kumbo

 
Kumbo Used To Be Called Banso
 

Had our trip to Kumbo been a couple of years ago, it would have taken a full day due to the road.  The road construction extends for miles and miles.  The trip took us three hours and proved to be very pleasant.   Along the way, there is a surprising amount agriculture and with the expectation of rainy season just ahead, lots of cultivation and planting activity.  The country side is very hilly and we were pleased to note that they are planting their rows across the hill.  However, the soil is depleted of nutrients from years of heavy use without giving back to the soil.  We climbed many hills but one in particular our driver said one had to go slowly to prevent the car from overheating because the hill is so steep and so long. 

Other than the terrible streets (deep pot holes, no pavement), Kumbo is a delightful large town.   We found our hotel, ordered a sardine sandwich on their pure white bread that is sweet with coffee that came with creamer and, although OK, decided the next lunch would be from our snacks.  Our IDF hosts were ready to take us to the meeting hall where HIV positive mothers and HIV positive children were assembling.

Meeting HIV Women and Children

We met the Chairperson, Yuri (Evelyn) 15 months ago.  She had travelled to Bana to witness to our seminar group.  Oussemaotu had recognized that the village of Bana had numbers of HIV positive people were were not addressing the problem.  Evelyn told her life story to the group.  Her coming forward in her community of Kumbo to break the stigmatization surrounding HIV AIDS has helped many people. 

Evelyn Showing Us A Picture Of Her Two Children

Meet Evelyn through Utube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRo1JEPEozQ

Several years ago a project was undertaken in Kumbo to identify HIV AIDS positive person, have testing done, antiretroviral drugs made available and support groups set up.  There are three groups with over 200 people actively participating.  As well, a microcredit loan program was begun. 

As people were coming into the meeting hall, I went to each of the children asking them their name and age and what level they were in school.  The meeting time had been set especially for them to come directly from school.  We were soon underway for a lively meeting. 

Each person in the room introduced themselves, children included.   Microcredit entrepreneurs proudly named their businesses:  farmers (pig, sheep, corn, beans, poultry), small store operators (fruits, vegetables, beans), a dressmaker, a restaurant operator, a person selling ground nut pudding, sandwiches and bread from a mobile cart and a person operating a sewing/knitting business. 

Integrated Development Foundation (IDF) gives training on business management, How to keep records to determine is there is a gain or loss.  They conduct home visits, help the person live positively, to build up their system, do hospital follow up.  The importance of early testing was emphasized so treatment can begin right away.   The cost of an HIV test has been reduced from 20000 to 17000 (very expensive for Cameroonians –$40 reduced to $34.00 Canadian!) 

Three support groups have been formed to help each other.  Children come together to share experiences, to talk about respecting the health regiment, to encourage doing well at school.  (These TALK groups are very important.  Many children have committed suicide after being told they are HIV positive.  Some have dropped out of school because they are stigmatized.) 

The District Delegate, known as Uncle George, spoke from experience.  He said of the six that lived in his house, four had been taken by HIV AIDS.  He said they could not accept the situation and were not careful to take care of themselves.  He said if you are an able person today, you may be disabled tomorrow.  It is important to accept life and go ahead.  He told us that many funders have poured a lot of money into the country and the masses could not handle it; that we are here because we love humanity.  Many people have much but don’t know how to reach those who need it.  After the delegate spoke, the group sang a lively song about HIV AIDS.

They had a poster welcoming us that came in very handy for me to give them a summary of a well balanced eating pattern.  Allan gave a short talk on Conservation Farming and the importance of Cover Crops to give back to the soil.

A meal to feed the multitude was placed on the table.  Rice, beans, huckleberry with agousi (pumpkin seeds shelled and the inner part ground to make agousi) and bananas.  The meal was delicious.  The servings the children gave themselves really surprised me.  The incredible part was that everyone had something to eat!

This program is world class.  As Allan said, they are each champions.  Many times throughout the meeting, the need for strict adherence to taking the medication everyday at the same time every day is so important.  AIDS is not a death sentence but it requires a disciplined approach to each aspect of living. 

Visits to Microcredit Entrepreneurs

We left for the market at 8 sharp.  The first two entrepreneurs run shops situated along the street.  Situations very.  The first shop keeper is on her own.  She and her children live  behind the shop.  The shop was tidy, nice counter and table to the side where she serves meals but today no meals because she is off to her farm to plant Irish Potatoes.

The second lady’s shop again very appealing displays.  Her husband has a tailoring business in the front corner complete with a treadle machine, iron and cutting table.  They too live behind the shop. 

Now,to the market.  Evelyn (Yuri) knew exactly where she was going.  The walkways are narrow and people were bringing in goods on hand carts in the main area so one had to be careful to keep to the side.  We were impressed with the variety of products.  Guri is a food made from grinding and cooking corn, they drying it.  People mix it like porridge.  Lots of beans, ground nuts, plantain, tomatoes sold, including the woven basket, Irish potatoes freshly dug, dried cassava, huckleberry, along with things unusual to us like cow pea leaves and lots of agousi.  Each of the Microcredit Entrepreneurs we visited had been at the meeting the day before.   In retrospect, Kumbo compared to Bana and Wum has an excellent food supply, good variety, good selection of legume based beans for protein, vegetables and fruits and this is dry season.  I was fascinated to see a table of mushrooms!  So, all you need is money.

Off to another Entrepreneur, this time a sewing, knitting business.  Two sisters are involved in the sewing, tailoring and knitting sweaters business (sweaters are often part of the school uniform which they also make).   Basic sewing is done on a treadle machine with a surger to finish seams.  They have an apprentice working with them. 

HIV AIDS Meeting the Challenge

Dressed traditionally ready to go to the council meeting at 10, Evelyn (Yuri) met us to not only take us to see a number of other Microcredit Entrepreneurs but to visit her own home and show us her chickens!  We walked down the rough, semi steep path to Yuri’s rented home.  Yuri recently has taken a baby whose mother abandoned her for the city, leaving Yuri to take full care of the baby.  Yuri has a young girl caring for the baby who at present is sick with mouth thrush.  The young girl would normally have taken the baby to the market stall with her but they want to assess the baby’s illness and see if the baby should go to the clinic.  Yuri took us into her home to show us how she handles breakfast for her two children and what she is feeding the one year old baby.  This certainly makes the Nutrition Seminar come to life.  Yuri sets out Ovaltine, Powdered Milk and Soya alongside a thermos of water.  The children make their own breakfast.  Milk based, this is an excellent beginning for them for the day. 

Outside there is a common tap that brings in town water.  Yuri raises chickens in a separate building, a few at a time to make a little money.  She has a small farm plot at another location.  Yuri is on city council as well as being very active with the support groups for HIV AIDS.  She looks the picture of health and wants to help others know how to live with HIV and be a healthy, productive person.