Yesterday Christine and Lovemore and I drove to Kapiri Mposhe and today to Kabwe.  At both places we did the first session introduction of a supplemental feeding program.  It is done through the CHEs (community health workers) but supported through Cry Africa, the Assemblies of God Africa HIV/AIDS ministry.  In it we screen people the CHEs have identified as being HIV positive and on treatment but appearing malnurished.  If they qualify, they receive supplemental high energy protein, cooking oil, ground nuts(peanuts) and veggies to supplement the food they already have.  A person with well controlled HIV can still have 10-20% higher caloric needs while with active infection (AIDS) 20-40% increase.  These people often already struggle to meet normal caloric intake.  To help with the sustainability of the program, we introduced moringa trees.  The feeding program itself runs for 6 months but is dependent on donations to supply the HEPS (high energy protein supplement).  Our hope is the moringa trees can help provide a longer term, "home grown" solution or help.  I got to do the lesson on moringa.  This time was introducing the tree, its uses and benefits.  Next time we deliver the HEPS and will bring some seedlings for the groups to plant and teach about how to plant and harvest.  I'm hoping to have some food for them to sample or help cook so they can try it first hand.  We did the screenings also to see who qualifies (small enough BMI and arm circumference).  We had to visit several homes because the people were too ill to come to the teaching site.

I loved being out of the big city and sitting in family compounds talking with the children, moms and dads and grandparents while puppies and chickens and ducklings wandered around.  Some of the people break your heart.  One elderly man, the CHE worker had just discovered the day before was living all alone in this small mud brick hut.  His mother comes and gives him one meal a day.  He is weak and can't walk without help and hasn't been able to get to clinic for several months so is not on his medicines presently.  He had such a gentle, meek and resigned spirit about him.  He was able to start in the program and the worker was figuring out ways to help him get to clinic.  One of the saddest parts about the entry form is filling out the 24 hour food diary.  Almost all the people we talked to eat only one meal a day.  That meal consists of a serving of nshima (think grits made stiff) and a small side of a green veggie like spinach (they use a veggie called rape or cabbage or pumpkin leaves).  A few of the people had a few small fish.  No wonder people are more worried about if the food fills you up or quantity vs quality.

A few other people stood out in my mind.  First was a gentleman who came bent over on the back of a bike, unable to walk. I am still puzzling over his neurologic problem.  I'm afraid there isn't treatment.  Another was this woman with a beautiful smile who walked with a cane and was so thin.  She burst into spontaneous songs while walking and was just beaming.  Another woman we met who had just had a stroke.  She too had a beautiful face but couldn't talk to us.  She needs a healing touch from the Great Physician.  Many others with each their own story.

Thank you for allowing me to be the one who gets to meet these people on the ground and bring some tangible help and spiritual encouragement.  The pastors we met are also incredible men with big hearts facing large problems with enthusiasm.  I am in awe at getting to work with these amazing people.

 Lesson in Kapiri about Moringa.  You can kind of see the moringa seedling in front of me in the bag. I'm excited that at each of the sites one of the pastors has gone through moringa training so already have some knowledge.

 Christine teaching the CHEs in Kabwe.

Lovemore and pastor at Kabwe doing skit to introduce one of the lessons.