22nd July, 2010
Day 2: International AIDS Conference in Vienna - Betty's Story
I would like to attend some of the sessions going on in the meeting rooms at the Messe Platz so that I can let the rest of the AMREF family know what the discussions are about, but there is so much to do at the exhibition stand, I am unable to tear myself away.
AMREF has a colourful stand, decorated with white and red kikoys (wraps). There are posters on the walls, in red and white and black, on various AMREF programmes on HIV – Maanisha in Kenya, Capacity Building in South Africa, Training at Headquarters, Home-Based Care in Ethiopia, PMTCT in Tanzania. A large screen plays AMREF movies – Chagua Maisha, Karibu Kwangu, PMTCT and Maternal Health, Into Africa, and Mapenzi Tamu. Three large banners draw passers-by to the stand. One says ‘Stand Up for African Mothers’ and explains what AMREF’s maternal health campaign is about. “That is what drew me to your stand – the fact that somebody is speaking out for African women and girls,” says a Ghanaian lady. She buys three ‘Stand Up for African Mothers’ T-shirts.
The tables are covered with publications, including AMREF case studies, Annual Report, Short Course Training brochures, CDs with technical presentations, ART Hub and Flying Doctors Newsletters, Health Learning Materials books catalogue, and brochures focusing on several projects. The publications result in numerous inquiries: “We want to train physicians in Eastern Africa and we need to partner with an organisation that works in that area.” “We are flying a condom balloon to several African countries; we would like to link up with an organisation working in HIV in Africa.” “We have a mobile treatment project in Eastern Cape – how can we link up with your office in South Africa.” “I am a microbiologist. Can I get a job to train lab technicians in AMREF?” Contacts are established and referrals made. It’s a great networking opportunity.
Some of the questions are pretty technical. Others are country-specific. I refer these to Melusi Ndhlalambi, or Dr Ojakaa, or Dr Ilako, or Dr Temu, or Dr Akatch, who are all attending the conference, and taking turns to help out at the stand.
The Kikoys and T-shirts draw a lot of attention. People buy them for themselves, their wives, and their mothers. A lady from Croatia asks to be shown how to carry a baby with a Kikoy. A young Malawian man gets a T-shirt and Kikoy for his girlfriend, who is not very happy that he is away that week.
Across the aisle from us is the International Planned Parenthood Federation stand. A huge sign on their wall says: “Crimimalise Hate, not HIV.” At one point, the traffic to our stand trickles down, but the IPPF stand has a steady flow of visitors. Their give-away red lanyards and blue bottles of lubricant are quite popular. Hmmm, I think to myself, maybe AMREF should …
And then again, maybe not - We have a great deal on our plate already. I answer questions about Uganda, Southern Sudan, Ethiopia; about training midwives, water and sanitation, and integrated HIV and AIDS interventions; about working with governments, with CBOs, with youth and with hospitals. I speak about the impact our projects have had; how they have been scaled up nationally, and across borders; our work with nomadic communities, our maternal health campaign. Many of those who stop by already know about AMREF. There are partners from Johnson and Johnson, FHI and the Global Health Council; there are delegates representing the ministries of health in South Africa, Ethiopia and the Netherlands; there is a former student of the DCH (Diploma in Community Health) course from Southern Sudan, and another from Kenya. A retired doctor from the UK narrates how he flew with Dr Michael Wood in the late ‘70s. All have words of praise for AMREF.
At one point, a long queue snakes its way past our stand, obscuring human traffic. Someone is giving out free T-shirts. A lady on the queue cannot understand why we will not give her a T-shirt. “They are being given for free round the corner, and you are selling yours for five euro?” A few minutes later, three people who were on the queue for the free T-shirts ask to buy the AMREF shirts. “I will wear this one, and give out the free one to my friend,” one of them says, a young lady who is working with a community-based organisation in Limpopo. “So now, tell me about your organisation.” She leaves with a bunch of publications, and the contacts of AMREF’s office in Pretoria.
By noon, I have run hundreds of metres in that little space in the exhibition stand and spoken my mouth dry. It’s exhausting work, but exciting, and fulfilling. All for better health for Africa.
