A Day in the Life…
Sweat dripped down my back as I clutched my minute book and walked across the street to the government clinic. It was only 8am but the glorious morning sun was beaming and in full effect. The walk from Moloadi’s office to the clinic always takes about 5 minutes. Unless someone stops me on the way to chat adding more time to the journey.
Today I was lucky haha 🙂
My dusty shoes in Botswana.
In June our District AIDS Coordinating office was scheduled to partake in the Evidence Based Planning (EBP) Retreat. This retreat brings together all the members of the District Multi-Sector AIDS Committee (DMSAC) to plan the towns HIV/AIDS activities for the next fiscal year. Each town/district sets their own goals and are also expected to work towards achieving Botswana’s national goals/framework which calls for “zero new infections by 2016”.
You may be wondering how exactly does the town know what activities to pursue?
Well that is based off statistics.
Every quarter the DMSAC meets together to discuss the happenings from their business sector. The team is comprised of one person from all the major businesses, NGOS, CBOS, and FBOS in the community. In my town of 3500+ there are no NGOS,CBOS, or FBOS. So only the government workers, health representative from the salt & soda ash mine, teachers and water company employees are represented. The majority of the data used during the EBP came from the government clinic.
So on this very day I set out to document the rest of the missing data we needed for our spreadsheets. Phoning ahead and speaking with the nurse in charge would assure that the materials were ready and waiting for me upon arrival. And they were!
Walking into the clinic always reminds me of the first season of the Walking Dead when Rick wakes up in the hospital. It’s just so dark and gloomy. As I walked down the long hallway I made sure to say “dumela” to the patients I passed. The nurse and I bumped into each other and she directed me to the room where the files were waiting.
Three giant stacks of yellow extra long manila style folders bursting with papers laid next to the desktop computer. I chuckled at the irony of these paper files kissing this immaculate computer. Opening my minute book I thumbed through to find my notes of the data needed.
Hmmm some of the PMTCT (Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission) info is missing, as well as condom distribution, Tuberculosis among others.
Let’s see what I can find. My thoughts in the exact order:
Starting with 2013 may be easiest…
These numbers are confusing…
That’s smart writing in pen…
What does this even mean…
Where is this page…
Why don’t the calculations add up…
Why won’t this fly leave me alone…
Wouldn’t this be easier to just type…
Maybe I should start with 2014…
Why don’t these number make sense…
Why is partner testing so low…
It’s really hot in this room…
I’ve been sitting here for an hour…
This doesn’t make sense…
Let me go find help/explanation…
OK…she doesn’t know how to explain the numbers…
I’ve been here for 2 hours…
I think it’s time to go get help from my counterpart…
I thanked the nurses for their help and walk back to the office. Walking back I couldn’t help but wonder if the countries HIV/AIDs rates were really as abysmal as reported or if the issue involved lack of data collections best practices?
As Local Government Capacity Builder my day in never the same.
Thanks for sharing your story. It’s good to hear what going on, on the front lines. Inspired by your courage to be on the front lines.
Peace,
Kahreem
Thank you Kahreem for your lovely comment. I really appreciate you taking the time to read this post 🙂