Rural Areas Round 1

Hey all! I have just gotten back from my first rural homestay, in Imontekulu, which is about an hour north of Durban along the coast. I had a great homestay family that I got along with very well. I stayed with Mama Siyabonga, sister Mbali, Baba, and 4 younger siblings, two boys and two girls, the oldest of whom was about 12. The area we were in was pretty rural, there were fields of sugar cane as far as the eye could see.

We were there to follow community health workers, basically community members who are given a small monthly stipend and educate the community about TB/HIV as well as basic health and sanitation practices. The first day we got there we followed our sister as she went around to various houses and talked to people. They all seemed to be interested in the information that she was presenting, it was always kind of a to-do, with everyone gathering around and listening and asking questions. I was able to pick up bits and pieces of the conversations (they were all in Zulu) and the information was pretty standard, but given the hygene and dietary practices of many of the places we visited, was definitely needed.

We quit at about 11, after about 3 hours of walking, because it got too hot, and then we went with Baba to go pick up the children at school. We picked up what felt like the entire neighborhood in the back of the truck, and then headed back home. The roads were so bad that we could only go about 8 miles an hour, but it was fun to talk to Baba and see the countryside. We got back and ate. We ate obscene amounts of food there, probably about 5 square meals per day plus tea and snacks.

There was no power or running water, so we hauled water in the afternoon in Baba’s truck. We went into town to another of Baba’s daughter’s house for dinner, and to watch Generations!

We also followed Mama on her rounds, which was a little more intense. We visited a lot more houses, and Mama checked prescriptions and talked to people about TB/HIV/AIDS. It got ridiculously hot out, and we called it a day at about 11. After lunch I went exploring the neighborhood with my little brothers, they showed me the cane fields, and where the cows are pastured, and where the store was. It was interesting to see where and how a good deal of the population here lives. Today I am headed to a different rural area up north, to talk to Sangoma’s (traditional medical practitioners) and see a more mountainous rural area. Wish me luck!

Sala Kashe

-Ben