Drew Emge on location in South Africa
During my “way-too-short” 3 weeks in Cape Town, specifically Mitchell’s Plain, South Africa, I interned in an HIV/AIDS clinic and hospice. Mostly, I observed the very few healthcare professionals taking care of and counseling/testing (for HIV/AIDS) the many patients of Mitchell’s Plain Community Health Centre (clinic). However, at iThemba Labantu Lutheran Centre in Philippi (a hospice in another township of Cape Town), my tasks were similar, but I was able to do much more actual hands-on, patient-related care.
In addition to observing and learning about the South African HIV/AIDS and healthcare system, I was able to talk to and feed patients while helping the nurses in their day-to-day routines (i.e. fetch things from around the church compound and assist them with patient transportation to the Philippi day hospital).
To sum-up the entire trip, I would have to say that experiencing the HIV/AIDS plight of sub-Saharan Africa first hand was surreal and emotionally challenging. The severely understaffed clinics were jam-packed with patients, HIV/AIDS counsellors were booked back-to-back with case after case, and the horizon, township streets, and highways were lined with thousands upon thousands of make-shift government housing projects (one- to two-room shacks with entire families living in and under flimsy tin and wood). To this day, it still is hard to grasp the apathy and unawareness of the majority of Westerners have to this immense, day-to-day suffering.
Atop Table Mountain in South Africa
One of the many roadside shanty towns in South Africa
