Reflecting on the visits arranged by Tshwaranang Resource Center (a HOPE Africa/Episcopal Relief and Development partnership) for our visit one day after Mlumbisi
DAY TWO
Washing the feet of an emaciated man, with loose falling skin who struggles to stand because of his long battle with TB. Glad my sense of smell is weak because the bedroom is full of the fragrance of a nursing home. The floor is dirty, the blankets are dirty – even the recently-washed clothes laid out for Jack Kampi for use after the bath, seem dirty.
The visit begins with Sally Roberts taking the blood pressure of Mr. Kampi, looked on by Mrs. Nomvuyo Mxhosana, and Zixolisile, Lessyton’s CHW leaders.
Following the cue of Zixolisile (Michael to you), I hesitate but hope neither he nor Mr. Kampi notices. Women are in the other room since they should not see a naked man. I begin to wash the feet of Mr. Kampi; at first, fearfully. Then, slowly, I realize how beautiful his feet are - the caracoled toenails themselves worthy of a doctor visit, not to mention the TB.
The skin on his legs, so scaly it looks like it will peel, is the same all over his body, plus back bedsores which look like half-eaten skin. I take his feet more firmly, making sure he is supported as he stands so Zixolisile – always smiling – can wash his hair, his chest, back and, finally his thighs, genitals and backside. Mr. Kampi seems to be gaining a little strength as we inject our energy into his body. The transformation is taking place: his legs now feel silky soft and smooth, clean and bright, and there’s a joy to wash and caress them, no matter how dingy the water has become.
After the bath, Mr. Kampi walks slowly to the kitchen, sits down next to his blind mother and with other family members.
It turns out we’re the same age.
Sally perfecting her Xhosa (‘click-click’ language): Nomvuyo and Zixolisile are advising her, with the wind-swept landscape in the background.
Sally perfecting her blood pressure-taking skills on Elsie, an elderly woman who never stops cracking jokes and laughing, prior to and during her bath
A typical roof protected against dramatic wind gusts by rocks, boulders and tires 
A very small home to an elderly couple and their AIDS-afflicted son who was taken to the hospital for an epileptic attack the day before we arrived. Three of their five grown children have already died of the disease; the only surviving daughter lives nearby and also has AIDS. There are three grandchildren that someone must take care of.
One of our happiest visits with Mutile Nzube who had lived half his life in Capetown; he only came back ‘home’ because he was getting old and needed someone to take care of him (his sister and son). His animated face, wild eyes and excited voice – and judging from the response of our colleagues – describe ribald stories that are better left untranslated. If the arthritis had not nearly crippled him, we’re sure he’d still be raising cain well into his 70s.
We visit a home with three adult siblings who are becoming more and more mentally unstable – one smiling for whatever reason, one transfixed on something and one who is absent. Seemingly, the only well son is caring for the widowed, aged father (David Paul), the challenged siblings and a variety of children and cousins.
I forget if one person out of the 20 or so who were there is working; if not, they all survive on the father’s pension - $120 per month, not reassuring when food prices jump almost daily. A troubled family:
Laughter at seeing their photo on the digital camera:
A garden outside the after-school center that provides nutritional veggies for orphaned and vulnerable children
Some of the orphaned or ‘vulnerable’ children welcoming us through dance
What does Tshwaranang Resource Center do (in addition to accounting for funds their program depends upon for its existence from Episcopal Relief and Development through HOPE Africa)?Regarding Community Health Workers (CHWs):
- Interviewing, ’hiring,’ and then training scores of Community Health Workers to build camaraderie, competence and life-saving skills.
- Providing extensive health kits to all CHWs
- Providing stipends for travel to and food at workshops for CHWs
- Workshops cover HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, planting gardens, nutrition, child and spousal abuse, mental disorders, drug use, crime and violence, orphans and vulnerable children, legal issues etc.
- Sensitivity training involving advice and even interceding when women or children are being abused
- A full-time staff person provides free and vital ‘legal’ assistance: helping families – or single grandmothers – receive government grants that will help pay for food, school costs and basic needs; CHWs are trained to listen for possible referrals to staff for legal advice.
- Extensive library which includes a wide variety of books and relevant materials on topics of ‘today,’ in English and Xhosa.
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