Nata medical student gives feedback on the website
Originally uploaded by natavillage.
Moetapele Coach Gasemolse was born and raised in Nata. He even went to school with our very own blogger Martha Ramaditse. Coach has been living in Australia and attending medical school. We thought you would be interested in his reaction to the website and the efforts that are taking place in Nata to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS. Thanks Coach for all your encouragement.
Comment from Moetapele Coach Gasemolse:
"Back home!I am currently back in Nata, Botswana, for the Christmas holidays. I must say that there has been a lot of change in the positive direction. Before the establishment of this website I must confess that I was a bit naive in as far as the exact impact of HIV/AIDS in Nata. I read thru the website that almost 50% of pregnant women attending Nata clinic are HIV positive, and since my arrival late last month I have witnessed first had the impact of AIDS in my Village Nata. One can spend many an hour trying to deduce why Botswana, and Nata in particular, has been hard hit by HIV/AIDS. The fact of the matter is that people are dying living behind grieving spouses who probably follow soon leaving behind orphans to an already ailing elderly population. It is high time every motswana took responsibility of his/her own life and 'keep the promise' as they say. However, amongst all the dying, there is hope... hope that one day things will be different, hope that one day people will not let culture and norms run their lives to ruin, hope that all the work put in by Melody, Martha, Mr Tiro, and the health professionals yields something, no matter how little it might be. Don't get me wrong, I was raised by the 'culture and norms and values of a motswana', but hey we as people we have an individual duty to make a choice (sometimes the wrong one), some of you reading this and are from Botswana will understand that there are certain proverbs and practices that do nothing but help the spread of this monster. My word is 'make the choice and keep the promise'. On the positive, people now talk openly about HIV, and people openly admit to be positive and receiving the ARV's from the clinic. Unfortunately, the change is not as great as it would be if the project were done in a different setting... Melody and her team have to get thru a giant wall of culture, norms, ignorance, and doubt. But remember that we should measure the change in mm not Km, only that way will we not be discouraged. Good luck to the team, I am with you in spirit. And as I have said before, KEEP ON AND YOU WILL GET THERE.Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to everybody involved, from Melody, Martha Rre Tiro and Mpokie at the clinic... You guys rock and together you will rock AIDS..."
Stimulating article and one which should be many widely acknowledged active in my analyze. Your rank of discussion is beneficent and the lucidity of authorship is fantabulous.
Student Laith Salma
Posted by: Student Laith Salma | March 03, 2012 at 07:41 AM