My Journey in the Kingdom of Swaziland

My name is Charisse Ahmed and I am a fourth-year health education major at the University of Florida, double minoring in health disparities and African studies. From June 1st to August 22nd, I will be studying the barriers to HIV pediatric care in the country with the highest rate of HIV in the world: Swaziland, Southern Africa. Please join me as I embark on this journey of spiritual and personal growth in the Kingdom of Swaziland. Note: this is primarily a retrospective blog.

Why am I in Swaziland?

HIV is a global pandemic and claimed the lives of millions of people all over the world. One of my hopes is that there will be a cure for HIV during or after my lifetime. Not only do I believe in physical healing of HIV, but I also believe in spiritual healing by faith in God. God has called me to act on this issue and my work here in Swaziland is being done to bring Him glory. By the grace of God, I was accepted into the Minority Health International Research Training (MHIRT) program offered by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health. Due to my passion for HIV research and prevention, I was selected to conduct research on the barriers to antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation among HIV-positive children 2 to 18 months of age in Swaziland. With the relatively high rate of HIV among pregnant women and the relatively low rate of children initiated on ART in comparison to adults in Swaziland, this a major public health concern within the country.

What am I doing?

Just to get an idea of what I will be blogging about, I will be implementing a research project on the barriers to antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation among HIV-positive children 2-18 months of age in Swaziland. I will be carrying out the study at several different health facilities in Swaziland with my research partner and fellow MHIRT trainee, Chantal Harris, who also attends the University of Florida. Our main job is to carry out the study by following the research protocol with the assistance of data clerks, the primary investigators, public health stakeholders, and doctors associated with the project and ART initiation among children. The research project is also funded by UNICEF, which allowed us to hire data clerks to assist with data extraction, survey administration, and the facilitation of focus groups for the study.

Who do I work with?

My fellow MHIRT trainee, Chantal Harris, will be working on the research project with me all summer. She also will be living with me in Dr. Peter Preko's guest house in Mbabane, Swaziland. Dr. Preko is our host and mentor as well as one of the primary investigators of the research study. Dr. Pauline Jolly is also a primary investigator for this research project and also the director of the MHIRT program at UAB. Mrs. Nobuhle Mthethwa is another one of the primary investigators and is the National Paediatric ART Officer of the Swaziland National AIDS Program (SNAP) of the Ministry Of Health (MoH). We have four data clerks helping us to carry out the study, which are two Swazi women, Nelisiwe (Neli for short) and Nozipho, and two Swazi men, Ndumiso and Sibusiso. Two other fellow MHIRT trainees, Jessica and ShaCoria, are also here in Swaziland for 12 weeks, but they are implementing a different project (association between HIV status and cervical cancer among women) and live with a host family in Manzini, Swaziland. The UNICEF budget for the research budget also rendered us the opportunity to hire two drivers from Affordable Car Hire (Smangaliso and Sipho) to take us from clinic to clinic.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Day 11: Dinner at Ramblas

Dr. Jolly's temporary stay at Ramblas

Dinner at Ramblas Restaurant: One of my favorite restaurants in Swaziland

Our dinner at Ramblas - I had the Quesadilla with chips and salad

Cheesecake for dessert!

Where Dr. Preko's children go to school - Lena picked us up from Ramblas and then pick up the kids

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Day 10: A Day Downtown

More pictures of downtown Mbabane: Kombi Station and Corporate Place

The MHIRT Team. Top picture: Dr. Jolly and I. Bottom picture from left to right: Chantal, ShaCoria, me, and Jessica.

Pictures I took on Pine Valley on the way to Dr. Preko's house

Chantal and I (mostly Chantal) made vegetable soup with Roti today with the cheap vegetables we bought at the market within the Kombi station! It was delicious!

Monday, June 9, 2014

Day 9: Another Baylor Day

In the Baylor Conference Room preparing for the upcoming research training. Dr. Jolly wearing a custom-made blazer from Ghana. She just had to rub it in that she had gotten customized outfits from Ghana, a country well-known for its fabric and intricate designs!

Planning clinic site visits

Evaluating the budget for the research project

Dr. Jolly is looking for a cheaper place to stay for the next 2 weeks of her visit wince Emantjeni Guest House is too expensive. This is one of the guest houses that she considered. It's on the same street as Baylor COE and is literally 2-3 minutes away by walking. Jessica is in the bottom picture playing with the dog.

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Day 7: Craft Shopping in Malkerns and Ezulwini


Swazi Hairdo, Starter Locs, Lovin' this look! Before leaving for craft shopping with Dr. Jolly and the girls.

Swazi Candles Craft Centre in Malkerns, Swaziland

ShaCoria and I near Swazi Candles


Swazi Candles Store - bought plenty of candles to take back home as souvenirs!

Craft market at Swazi Candles Craft Centre

Breakfast for lunch at Swazi Candles

On the left, is a picture of the pancakes with eggs and cheese. The pancakes are thin and rolled up, which is usually how they are prepared in in Southern Africa. I like the American-style pankcakes better. These pancakes are too bland. ShaCoria and I didn't think the breakfast was very satiating so we ordered chicken tenders and french fries (which are called chips here) and shared them.

Ezulwini Craft Market in Ezulwini (which means heaven in Siswati I believe). This is another place where tourists usually go to buy African crafts as souvenirs.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Day 6: Loc Journey Begins... Again

Starting dreadlocks in Swaziland

So for those of you who don't know, I've been wanting to lock my hair (grow dreadlocks) since my freshman year of college, just about 3 years ago. So I was finally bold enough to do it! There are many ways you can start growing dreadlocks. I originally started mine about a month from ago with two-strand twists, which will eventually form into dreadlocks overtime. However, I don't think I was completely satisfied with the size and technique I used to start my locks. Therefore, I decided to start my locks over in Swaziland, which was perfect for me because dreadlocks are a VERY common and affordable hairstyle in Swaziland (among men and women, especially women). I've seen many women with unique hairstyles with dreadlocks. It is also really cheap to start dreads. My hairstylist, Lisa charged me 200 Rands to start them (equivalent to 20 US dollars), so I gave her an extra 50 Rands as a tip. I'm excited to have started my loc journey in Africa! Stay tuned for more hair updates.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Day 5: Technical Working Group Meeting

Technical Working Group Meeting in the SNAP (Swaziland National AIDS Programme) Building

Today, I sat through a meeting about the state of pediatric HIV care and ARV initiation in Swaziland. It was a good experience to meet a group of leaders representing different national programs with an invested interest in addressing the HIV epidemic among children and families in Swaziland. One of the primary investigators of my research project, Mrs. Nobuhle Mthethwa, who is sitting in the front of the room in the black and white blazer, is the National Paediatric ART Officer of the Swaziland National AIDS Programme (SNAP) of the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Day 4: Another Day at Baylor


Top: Conference Room at Baylor Bottom: Children's Playground at Baylor

Since the protocol for our project has not been yet approved by the Swaziland Ethics Committee (SEC) we had a lot of work to do. We began planning the research training for the data clerks and other logistics of the protocol as we await for SEC approval.

	Had dinner at a nice Indian restaurant called Green Chilli in the food court at Corporate Place
	Dinner at Green Chili's

Had dinner at a nice Indian restaurant called Green Chilli in the food court at Corporate Place. I had curry chicken (top picture) and a chicken samoosa as an appetizer. I love this place! I also love the Liqui Fruit juices here. They are thicker and have a more natural taste compared to many juices in the States.

Nature Walk

Pine Valley Road

Chantal and I decided to go on a nature work after coming home. The Preko's live on Pine Valley Road. So we took some pictures of the scenery on the road.

The Kingdom of Swaziland