HIV Care for 5000 children/caregivers in Swaziland

CHIPS mobile clinic gingerly makes its way into the Khomba community navigating this make shift squatter community of sugarcane workers and their families to bring them much needed medical services. Up over the water channel, tight turn between tuck shop and flowing water, wide turn at the mango tree grove and homestead – be mindful of the ever changing potholes that could swallow your car whole – arrive at your destination parking under the mango tree next to the shebin’ homestead (where a special connoisseur of local moonshine is brewed and consumed by the community). Pop up the camper shell roof on the mobile clinic and we are open for business!

Within moments of arrival word quickly spreads CHIPS has arrived and those in need of our services start preparing themselves to come. Just like clockwork we soon hear the shuffle of little footsteps coming our way, four year old Bethu coming for his weight, height, and arm circumference (MUAC) to be taken – whether it’s his appointment date or not.

Bethu, one of our many beloved clients in Khomba, came to us two year ago very sickly and in need of great medical intervention. Staying with his grandmother after his mom abandoned them the grandma struggled to meet their basic daily needs. Tummy distended, puffy face, swollen hands and feet with sores in his mouth Bethu was powerless and miserable.

At a glance the CHIPS nurse diagnosed Bethu with kwashiorkor, extreme malnutrition. With further investigation it was discovered that he was also HIV positive which magnified his infections and malnutrition. In urgent need of medical treatment Bethu was taken by CHIPS transport to be seen by doctors at the closest local hospital 45 minutes away.

Good Shephard Hospital was able to treat him for malnutrition, supplied him with extra food packs, and within three weeks he was started on life sustaining ARV’s (treatment for HIV). CHIPS was able to also supply Plumpy Nut, highly fortified peanut butter-supplement for malnourished persons, to help him gain the weight his body so desperately needed. Since Bethu’s grandmother had no job and serious financial problems CHIPS took responsibility to provide transport for Bethu and his grandma for every appointment they had at Good Shepherd Hospital. Within some months Bethu’s health drastically improved and he became an active happy three year-old.

Bethu health was so stable, his HIV virus at it’s very lowest point (viral load undetectable) within a year and a half that the hospital transferred his regular HIV treatment care to the CHIPS mobile clinic where we weigh him, measure his growing stature, and give him life sustaining ARV’s right there in the community he lives in. Bethu’s grandmother greatly appreciates the services that CHIPS provide and always praises us saying "CHIPS raised her grandson from death back to life".

Now 4 years old Bethu is healthy, happy, and a very good friend to CHIPS. If you are ever with us in Khomba sitting under the mango tree and hear the shuffling of little feet, you’ll know Bethu is making his way to us for some loving, and for all his measurements to be taken.

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The CHIPS staff have helped form Community ART (Anti-Retroviral Therapy) groups in a number of the communities that they serve. These groups are meant to help individuals in each community to better cope not only with living with HIV but also with the lifelong commitment required to take the ARVs (Anti-Retro Virals) that are taken to control the HIV virus. One of the biggest problems with living with a chronic disease is the commitment to stay on treatment. These groups are meant to help form a support structure in each community.

Mxolisi, an Expert Client that works with CHIPS has begun five of the groups so far: Maphiveni, Khomba, Macethuka, Mgidza and Section 19. The number of the ART groups is going to increase with time since the clients are still getting used to the whole idea and the fact that not all support group members attended the support group meetings when the ART groups were formed. Some members of the community who are HIV but are not CHIPS clients want to be a part of the support group initiative.

The clients like the idea of the ART groups since it will make life much easier for them: in both collecting the ARVs and also the support they can offer to each other.

While some CHIPS clients were expecting handouts from the support groups, it was explained to them that CHIPS is focusing on the therapeutic part of the support groups and not the income generating part. But the groups are open to invite other partners who could empower people living with HIV with skills. Thokozani was invited to make presentations on the work that he is doing for Kudvumisa Foundation and was received well by the clients. They feel that they will be empowered financially by selling the moringa seeds and the marula nuts and some have already started bringing the moringa seeds for Thokozane to purchase.

The support groups are now choosing names: Siyayinakekela imphilo yetfu for Maphiveni, Chubekela embili for Khomba, Inkhosi inatsi forMacethuka and Singumndeni for Section 19. Mgidza is still deciding on theirs.

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