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Read about Project Tanzania 2009 » |
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©2009 The Phil Simon Clinic |
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2004 Field Journal archiveAuthor - Webmaster
Author - Webmaster The team is packing to take off on january 17th!
Author - Kimberly Shriner, Director The Phil Simon Clinic At T minus 2 days and counting, this will be the first installment of The Phil Simon Clinic Tanzania Journal. So many months (years) of preparation have taken us here. We already have a great email and postal correspondence with Dr. Solomon Ole Logilinore and his Upone Charitable Medical Centre in Arusha. Have sent ( truncated grammar courtesy of Ernest Hemingway…seemed sort of appropriate for an African journal) several boxes loaded with medicines and medical supplies already. Now we’re ready to bring the human part of the project. So many questions—what will it be like? Will we have access to many HIV infected persons? How will they receive us? Can we provide the medications and set up a viable clinic? Will it be overwhelming? Sometimes seems like so many obstacles and that isn’t counting 27 hour plane flights, baggage issues, customs, mosquitoes, Tanzanian potholes and irate elephants. Have had a few challenges to deal with on this side of the Atlantic. Last minute changes due to personal situations for two of our nurses, Tom Warren and Diane Datko. They will be missed enormously but will hold down command central. Allison Morris, a superb ICU nurse and now Huntington Hospital risk management administrator bravely stepped into place…”Hey Allison, do you want to go to Tanzania…..next week?!!” No hesitation. Her skills, sense of adventure (and humor) and passion for helping people fit right in with the rest of the team. So the bags are loaded with antimicrobials, medical supplies, a microscope donated by The Huntington Pathology department, a pulse oximeter donated by Nellcor, a model of the HIV virus, teaching supplies and even art supplies. Pleases all of us to be bringing science and art to Arusha. The watercolor group at AIDS Service Center have sent along paint sets for African clients. Art-the universal language. Perhaps appropriate that antiretroviral therapy is ART. Also from Jody Casserly’s mental health department at AIDS Service Center is the Spanish speaking women’s project-collections of personal photos from their lives with HIV that they would like to share with African clients. Will hopefully bring back the African Ladies group photos to share with their Hispanic counterparts. It’s Spanish to English to Swahili and back again, but that’s the beauty of a global clinic! (Gracias to the ladies, Asante sana, Thank you.) Lyn Smillie, The Phil Simon Clinic administrator….organizer extraordinaire, can multitask like no one’s business and knows exactly what I need even before I do…couldn’t do any of this without her. Ann Kleeger,-a veteran social worker from the first trip, has already established support groups in Arusha and dedicated to the spread of accurate information about HIV-easy going, adaptable and except for an unusually dramatic reaction to the presence of spiders, a dream of a travel companion. Rhonda Richins-also a veteran from the first trip; compassionate, smart, funny, a wonderful artist and nurse adored by all patients, but especially the Maasai. Rhonda keeps everyone afloat and makes calm out of chaos. Ryan Richins-Rhonda’s wonderful husband-a true sport to be traveling thousands of miles with so many women; our resident photographer, carpenter, technical support and fix it guy. Hope he knows something about irate Rhinoceri! Jody Casserly-Project director of Mental Health at AIDS Service Center, a compassionate and dedicated social worker devoted to the underserved. She and her staff have been a part of The Phil Simon Clinic for years. Her inspiration and hard work have brought forth the Spanish Speaking Womens Group International Project and the Tanzania watercolor class project. As skilled with a camera as she is with the DSM IV; an invaluable asset to the team. Allison Morris-winner of the “can travel at the drop of a hat” award. A fabulous ICU nurse and dedicated server of the underserved, Allison has already given her expertise to a clinic in Haiti. Thanks to Sandra Davis and the administration of Huntington Hospital for letting her go on such short notice. Delighted to have her on board. Jenny Murase-our first resident doctor to lend a hand, a superb intern whose hard work obtaining meds, grants and other projects puts all of us to shame. A rare resident indeed who has to be told to go home! Thanks to her understanding husband and family for loaning such a bright and energetic physician. There are so many others…Tom Warren and Diane Datkoand Agnes Oh, of course minding the store at home. My patient and generous associate, Dr. David Man who will supervise The Phil Simon Clinic for the next two weeks. Bryan Younger our superb computer specialist who has delivered this website and given so much advice. Jim Avedekian, a friend and sponsor of the project. Thanks to Jennifer, Mary, the HMH housestaff and faculty, Vince and the ASC art group, the clients at Phil Simon, my parents and so many others. This is genuinely a group effort. It’s time to take the leap…hopefully the net will appear! Asante sana Kimberly Shriner, Director The Phil Simon Clinic
Author - Jody Casserly Well, I'm off to bring a little of AIDS Service Center to Tanzania? LITERALLY!! Packed in my bags to be shared with HIV/AIDS patients in Africa are: * The pictures and stories of our HIV Postive Spanish-speaking women's group, the Adult Art Commity, the Infected Teen group, and the Monday night HIV discussion group. Thank you to all of ASC's clients who have been so willing to share their lives with their brothers and sisters in Africa, and to Richard Garay and Elsa Torres for making it all possible and for their translation services. As Dr. Shriner says it's Spanish to English to Swahili and back again! * 30 disposable cameras for people in Africa to share their pictures and stories with our clients. (thanks to John Wisor and ASC for contributing to the cost of film developing, and to ASC Board member, Burt Purl, and Samy's Cameras for the donation of the cameras). * Watercolor sets, brushes, paper and colored markers donated by the Adult Art Community so that I can do an art workshop with the people in Tanzania so they can experience healing through art as our clients in Pasadena have. I can't wait to bring back their works of art to display at the next Art/Song on February 6th! * 1000 condoms and prevention and educational materials courtesy of Janis Martin (who is always willing to do good sharing - and always plays well with others!) and ASC's Prevention and Community Education (PACE) department. * A psychosocial assessment tool adapted for use with patients in Tanzania (sensitive to cultural and social issues of that culture). Thanks to the mental health department, especially Susie Icaza, for input, ideas and suggestions! This truly has been a group effort. I am so grateful to everyone at ASC for their enthusiasm , support and desire to participate in this project. I'm sure when I return I will have more of an idea of how ASC can do more. I have been especially inspired by the enthusiastic response from our clients through what has now come to be known as Healing the World Inch by Inch: People with HIV/AIDS Helping People with HIV/AIDS. What has come out of this - witnessing how this has personally affected the clients who have participated - has been amazing and powerful! Thank you Dr. Shriner and the staff of the Phil Simon Clinic for giving me and ASC this incredible opportunity to share what we at ASC all do so well with the people of Tanzania. Thanks John & Yvonne for letting me go. Thanks to Kellum, Larry, Sheila, Laura, Randie and the rest of the mental health folks for covering for me while I'm gone (especially to Kellum for stepping in to hold down the fort!). Four A.M. is going to come pretty early tomorrow morning ? I can't believe I'm going to Africa!!
Author - Webmaster The team gathered at Huntington Memorial Hospital at 4am to board their shuttles to the airport. Did someone remember to bring coffee? Have a safe trip team!
Author - Jenny Murase Quirir quelquefois, soulager souvent, consoler toujours.
Author - Alison Morris Our first working day started even before we were set up and ready to go. We pulled into the clinic and patients were already waiting. Dr. Ole had yet to arrive, but we jumped right in and we quickly developed our strategy. Lyn worked with the office staff to introduce them to our new assessment form. Stella, the head nurse and myself began seeing patients. Vital signs and the main complaints were received. Stella was introduced to the new pulse oximeter, donated by Nelcor as well as a new automatic B/P cuff that made both of our lives easier in the triage area. The patients then waited to see Dr. Shriner, who was working with Dr. Ole or Dr. Murase who was working with Edward. Meds andother treatments were prescribed and the process continued non-stop until 3:00pm. No lunch, no breaks, no sitting down and it was hot! Lyn, our super administrator gave us the final count at the end of the day-37 patients were seen in 5 hours! There were approximately 10 HIV+ patients that were seen. Lyn and Rhonda organized the medications and supplies that were donated. Ryan, our terrific photographer and carpenter spent the day building shelves for the supplies,taking pictures of the patients and children and suprising them with instant color photos! I wish you could have seen their beautiful faces lightup!!! So, at the end of the day we were hot, tired, hungry.......but very happy for the day.
Author - Kimberly Shriner Twalibu He is 6 years old. Beautiful and expressive brown eyes. A quick smile. Bright and outgoing. He's as curious and energetic as any 6 year old at home. He also has HIV. He has lost both parents to HIV/AIDS and is now living with a loving aunt. So far, he's fairly healthy; just a little cough. He jumps up on my exam table easily and happily undergoes a physical exam. Except for some enlarged lymph nodes, you would never know. He hasn't developed the listless look of death that the 11 year old down the hall shows. Maybe he will live long enough to see antiretroviral therapy in Tanzania. Maybe not. It's heartbreaking for us but not for Twalibu. Clutching his new plastic toy from America, he trots out the door hand in hand with his aunt. This is the face of AIDS in Africa. K.Shriner
Author - Ann Kleeger Today we were invited to a social service organization for people living with HIV\AIDS, staffed by volunteers. We learned about their lives and problems in a sharing and discussion session and met with them individually in 2 teams of Dr., nurse and social worker. The lack of food/nutrition, transportation and lack of medicine for treatment are their biggest concerns and problems. Most of them can't work because they are too sick. Their families take care of them and often how to get food with no money is a problem. Most have transportation problems. Lacking and limited medicine for treatment is a real problem, so many suffer from opportunistic infection quietly. One man arrived with his 7 year old daughter. His daughter has had HIV since birth. Her mother is already dead from the illness. A young woman in her twenties, frail and wracked with illness and out of breath walked a great distance to get to the clinic today. We were invited to visit a thirty year old bedridden woman. Her mother who must now take care of her and her children has no other support outside of a once per week visit from a volunteer. There is no family support group available. Think of our plight with HIV/AIDS some twenty years ago. This is Tanzania today. They are struggling. I couldn't help but think, how many more exist in homes that we cannot see, unable to get out or access services for help. As the day was coming to an end we arrived back at Upone Clinic to find forty patients with their children had been waiting ready to sign up to be seen for next treatment day. Dr. Morase, Alison and Rhonda focused on organizing shelves for supplies. Dr.Shriner, Dr. Ole and Jody met for further discussion and Ryan and I took pictures of patients who wanted them for keepsake. Ann
Author - Rhonda Richins 11:30 pm was when we ended our day yesterday. Last night we attended our driver's (pascal's) neice's wedding send-off (wedding reception). It encluded everything from a Catholic mass, a DJ playing Michael Jackson & INSINC to dancing, and mooing cows...... Dr. Shriner told us NOT TO EAT ANYTHING!!! The food was served from 5 gallon paint buckets and from what we were told it was "chicken". Pascal and his wife gave the ladies in the group tonga's so we could "fit in". Being the only Unzungu's (white people in Swahili) the tonga's made us feel special but fitting in wouldn't be the words to describe us in a crowd of 300 plus Tanzanian's. We arrived back to our room at 4:30 from clinic leaving us 30 minutes to get ready, I bet Ryan didn't think 7 senstive women could get ready so quickly...... Over breakfast we had our pre-conference to discuss the days plan. We split up into groups to tackle the 40 patients already waiting to see the American Doctors. One group was Dr. Shriner, Jody, and Lesicar(our driver, translator, friend)who saw patients. In another room was Dr. Murasi, Ann & Dr. Edward. Allison, Stella (the clinic nurse) and I were busy in triage while Ryan was attempting to complete the shelving in the med room in between power shortages. Lyn was the runner, she was packing up meds for us and the doctors and assisted Ryan in his building efforts. After looking back on our days adventures, I think back and smile..... I picture the glow in the womens eyes when she received a picture from Ryan that he took and printed for her on the spot. I saw how happy Lyn made a young child holding a ballon that she blew up. I heard a patient tell Jody in broken english "you are pretty." I saw how Stella got the "I got it look" when Allison was teaching her. I enjoyed how Dr. Murassi had to be creative while looking at an xray by putting it up to the sunlight from the window. I loved to see the excitement that Ann got as she spoke Swahili to patient. Most of all, I saw a patient look at me when I placed my hand on top of his, as if this was the only comfort he received since 2002 when he found out he was HIV positve. I know in the short amount of time he had with our group, he received many smiles, a picture of himself, a complete exam from a wonderful doctor, and finaly a touch of love that was lacking due to the stigma placed from this terrible virus......... Much love, we miss you-all....
Author - Jody Casserly Today marked the first official meeting of the Tumaini Group (Swahili for "Hope"). This will be a group of women either infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS who hope to come together regularly at the Upone Clinic to share with each other, and to go out in the community to educated others and invite them into their group. How this group happened to come together was the part I wanted to share, especially with the Grupo Esperanza woment at AIDS Service Center, whose pictures and stories were the inspiration for their sisters in Tanzania. On Monday, our first morning at Upone, several women and their children were at the clinic for the weekly maternal child clinic. Ann Kleeger and I were in the process of creating a board in the hallway where the patients wait with the pictures from the Grupo Esperanza and their stories. We also asked Simon, the guard at the clinic, to make a sign in Swahili explaining what the pictures and stories were about. AS the day went on, several of the women looked at the pictures and asked about the people in them. We and our interpreters explained that these were women in the United States who were living with HIV and hoped to reach out to their sisters in Africa. At the end of the day, I was approached by 5 women saying that they, too, wanted to start a group, stating that they wanted to come together as the women in the U.S. had. We agreed that we would have a meeting on Friday morning (today), to talk about their plans. I gave them cameras and asked them to bring them back to me with stories to bring home with me to my group.
Author - Lyn Smillie Our day began with me sharing a letter from my eldest son Iain praising the work we do to help others who are less fortunate than we are. For each of the Phil Simon Clinic team members, what we do to help others comes from our hearts, it is part of who we are. Our nurses, Alison and Rhonda after tending the sick, are out blowing up ballons for the children. Jody and Ann our social workers having had group meetings mangage to find the time to have an outdoor painting group for all the children. There had to be more than fifty children there and exceptionally talented. After a very hard working day for out team, it is fun to be able to share the joy of the children having us there. Ryan-King as we call him, has such a great rapore with the children and makes there day with presenting them with lovely pictures of themselves. I can tell Dr.Murase's parents and her husband that they would be very proud of her. She is such a dedicated doctor and is learning a lot from Dr.Shriner and Dr. Ole and she has her whole heart into her work. Her Dispensary clinic will never be the same for her.
Author - Jody Casserly 1/23/01 To you dear Jody, Many greetings come to you where you are. I have much sympathy for your team and the job you are doing. For me, I am happy with my family. I would like to thank you for your good treatment. There is nothing more I can say except to pass my greetings on to your people in America and to remind you to remain close to us and those affected by HIV. Once they become separated,they will have nothing to discourage them from committing suicide. I have nothing more, from me, Farida, and my friends Tatu, Mary, Raheli, Rukia, and Amina. (At the bottom of this handwritten letter, translated by our wonderful driver, Lasikar, was a heart with several separations, each with the word "UPENDO", Swahili for "LOVE."
Author - Kim Shriner Africa gets under your skin,literally and figuratively. We've completed our clinical work at Upone for the week. It's really only the very beginning. Our staff is experiencing a mixture of exhaustion and exhiliration. The week has been a kaleidoscope of hard work, tremendous sorrow, incredible joy and inspiration. We leave Upone with a well stocked pharmacy thanks to the tremendous work of Dr.Murase,Ryan,Rhonda,Lyn and Alison (not to mention Jody and Ann who also helped haul 8 bags of medical supplies 7000 miles.) The nurses,Alison and Rhonda spent the morning teaching the nursing staff infection control and safer nursing techniques. I can see the bond between them and the Upone nurses. They now have a pulse oximeter, automatic blood pressure cuffs and a more organized triage. They also have many new friends,both African and American. Jody and Ann have created new support systems through a women's group and art therapy. The Spanish speaking ladies group project is more than anyone could imagine. The African ladies have returned their photos-an incredible testimony to the trials and triumphs of having HIV in Tanzania-so personal and so powerful. It will be an amazing link across two continents and three languages. Ann ran a children's art group and will return to the U.S. armed with startling creations from children who had never seen paints (the side yard of Upone now bears the imprints of small,painted hands.) Lyn has helped create a more organized data system for Upone and will continue her invaluable assistance to me in our ongoing negotiations for improving the Upone building. Ryan, the only male in our group (looked upon with some envy by the other African men) has been a whirlwind of activity. He builds shelves, photographs the events of the clinc, entertains the hordes of children that gather and keeps all the ladies in line (Pascal, our Masai driver and good friend refers to Ryan as the "male impala". We call him the "Ryan King.") Dr.Murase has given every ounce of energy to the loads of patients descending upon us. 6 months into her internship and she can evaluate 20 patients in a session. Her dedication to good care and a proper use of medications is appreciated by both Dr.Ole and myself. So yesterday, we said goodbye to the staff and patients at Upone. Like the African dust, they have gotten under our skin. We are part of them as much as they are part of us. It's been a week beyond all expectations; a wonderful, devastating, hilarious, tragic and inspirational hodgepodge of events. The generosity, openness, acceptance and genuine love of all the people we have met is overwhelming and will take a lifetime to process. As we shared a wonderful traditional meal at Dr.Ole's home, we committed to the sistership between The Upone Charitable Medical Centre and The Phil Simon Clinic. All of these images are swirling around in my head today. Add to that our warm and musical greeting by the villagers of Sasi whom we have visited with our partners, Global Partners and the exceptional accomplishments of the Arusha ladies cheese cooperative,it has been an incredible day. Not a bad way to spend a 46th birthday. We will go back to the States with so many memories and ambitions,but we leave our hearts in Tanzania. Author - Ryan Just a quick note to let you all know that all is well.
Just wanted to send an update to let everyone know that we are back in Arusha safe from Safari. We miss you, The Gang
Author - Ryan Richins How do you write about a trip that has been and is speechless. Like a magnificent four-ton elephant that is five feet from your vehichle, a picture does not give it justice! Words cannot describe the unconditional love that has been given out to all those that have stretched forth a hand. Political, religious, and personal beliefs (though very different) have been put aside. We have bonded on a much higher level -- a spiritual level, a level of love and harmony. THE THREE CLIMATE ZONES TO EACH MEAL:
THE SILLY QUESTIONS:
From "chesty pain" and "crater nose" to slugs (kono kono) and wild bats (popo), the love of this wonderful group always returns to the suffering "Around the World" with HIV/AIDS. Dr. Shriner has continously asked me, "Ryan, was it worth the 30 hour flight?" And I can honestly tell her, "Yes, because I have been surrounded by seven angels."
The jet lag is beginning to wear off and the reality of our adventure is beginning to set in. One last image of Kilimanjaro as we set off for the airport and our flight home. A teary farewell to Pascal and Lesika, our special friends who delivered us safely from safari. We've arrived back in the U.S. after a grueling 30 hours of travel, exhausted yet exhilarated. It's hard not to feel like it was all a dream. The memories and the Tanzanian dust clinging to our suitcases won't let us forget. The nights are filled with dreams of giraffes on the highway, laughing children at the clinic chasing balloons, the faces of people so poor and yet so generous with their hearts and time. The days are filled with plans for financing this huge project, the intricacies of a global clinic, trying to fulfill the many expectations and to convey to those at home how important this truly is. Africa is a continent of paradoxes-incredible beauty; incredible poverty; a land of discovery and desperation. It's hard to describe the grandeur of Ngorongoro crater. It's even harder to describe the feelings evoked by the face of a 6 year old, infected with HIV who can still laugh and smile when given a small toy. My tireless and devoted staff have given their time and expertise to the people of Arusha, but the Tanzanians have given us an even larger gift-their hearts. We will never forget and we will be back. Dr. Kim Shriner
Author - Dr. Solomon Ole Logilinore Ladies and Gentlemen: It is a very sad day to say farewell to you friends whom we have been together working hand in hand giving services to the patients visiting the HIV/AIDS groups, and doing home visiting in Arusha Municipality. This was a very memorable moment being together as one team, where no person could notice that we come from different nationalities with different backgrounds. You have been and in fact, are special people. Every body enjoyed your services, both patients, relatives and staff you happen to work with. We thank you for the medicines and equipment that you brought to Upone Medical Centre. This will boost services and the morale of the service providers. We promise you that we will use the equipment and the medicines for the betterment of the services to our patients and not for any cost nor profit making. Upone is lacking many things including equipment, medicine and staff incentives, but I hope that with the support we are getting from you, this, in future, will be only a history. We have no words to express our deep hearted gratitude for what you have done for us and our people but what we can do is to continue this spirit and the team work you imported to us in caring for the needy. It is my hope that the cooperation between The Phil Simon Clinic in Pasadena and the Upone Charitable Medical Centre in Arusha will be strengthened and sustained to benefit our patients and staff. We wish you a very good journey back home and many regards for those you left at home and well wishers. May I present this on behalf of the Upone Staff. -Dr. Solomon Ole Logilinore |
