April 2018 Update

Our clinic continues to be well-attended and support is growing. April's clinic saw 27 adults and 6 children. We have been reminded once again how difficult life can be on the margins here in Botswana. In addition to treatment and medicines, our patients often go hungry, and lack access to many basic necessities. Members of the local ex-pat community have rallied with clothes, diapers, staples and toys. That's Claudia Bredeck (from the US Embassy) and Rosemary Njaya handing out diapers, clothes, and food. Rosemary is from Zimbabwe but grew up here in Gaborone, and hopes to go to China to study medicine in a 6-year program. You can see how excited everyone is below!

One of the children we saw was nine-year-old Emily, who last year was seriously ill with tuberculosis and struggled to get HIV medication consistently. After we provided counseling on medication and nutrition, we are happy to report that Emily is dong much better - she now takes her medication consistently and has gained almost 5 pounds! Hopefully we will see her condition continue to improve in the coming months.

We also saw three women who are currently pregnant. One of them, Tanaka, has been on HIV medication for about four years, but is now facing financial difficulty because her work and residence permits in Botswana have expired. She is battling to get them renewed, and we are working to ensure that she remains on treatment so that her baby can be born HIV negative. Another one of the pregnant women, Carmen, is expecting her second baby within a few weeks. We were able to start her on HIV treatment so hopefully her baby will also be born HIV negative. Without our volunteers who provide fantastic care to Maipelo patients, none of this would be possible. Below is Dr. Brigid Malone and volunteer Senzeni, herself a refugee from Zimbabwe who is now studying occupational health in Botswana.

Finally, we are happy to report that baby Noela has officially tested HIV negative thanks to her mom being able to receive HIV treatment. Unfortunately, she is showing signs of cerebral palsy as well as potential hearing and visual deficits. We are referring her to hearing and sight assessments, and working to get her occupational therapy.

We will continue to keep you posted on Cover the Globe’s work with Maipelo, which is only made possible by generous supporters like you. Thanks to you, we are able to continue to do this important work of  helping parents and children like Nicolas. Until next time!