This fall I, along with ten other brilliant and talented collegues will be traveling to Mozambique as part of my Honors seminar at Wayne State University. It is through this blog that I will be keeping track of my thoughts and experiences as I prepare to travel to Mozambique for the nation's democratic election! I think it is only fitting to begin with an introduction of myself and my current life experiences.
This past Sunday was Eid-ul-Fitr, the celebration which marks the end of Ramadan (the one month period of fasting in the Muslim faith). Our preparations for this course began much sooner than the actual start of the semester, with a unique first meeting. Our first official gathering took place not in a typical classroom but the elegant home of our gracious host Dr. Irvin D. Reid, the former president of Wayne State University. Dr. Reid arranged an elaborate multi-course East African meal for all of us, and this just happened to be the 2nd day of fasting for me. While I did not get to taste what appeared to be a delicious meal, I would like to thank Dr. Reid for his wonderful hospitality and for providing me with scrumptious fruit when the time to break fast rolled around.
Now a bit more about myself: I am a student in the Honors College at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. For as far back as I can remember, I have wanted to be a doctor and I am currently pursuing a pre-med/biological sciences major. Through numerous experiences, it has become increasingly obvious to me that a careeer in medicine is truly what I wish to pursue. When I first learned of the African Democracy Project in Mozambique, I was a bit hesitant because political science is not an area of expertise of mine, and the entire project seemed nothing like any of the courses I had ever taken. But this is exactly why I decided to apply! It goes without saying that I could not be more satisfied with my decision. I am actually really enjoying learning about the various politcal systems around the world-both in theory and practice, and the political situation currently in Mozambique. I would like to take a moment to thank Dr. Reid and Professor Deegan-Krause for seeing my genuine interest and giving me this remarkable oppertunity. While I have traveled to many parts of the world, I have never traveled without my family and been off on my own to explore! I pictured myself embarking on such an ambitious journey much later in life, and yet within a matter of days through this project, it started to become an imediate reality! Stepping outside of the typical academic setting stirs feelings of both fear and excitment, the latter being more prominent and giving me the courage to continue!
So as the name of the course implies, we will be looking at democracy outside of the United States, specifically in Mozambique. Our actual trip to Mozambique will begin prior to the country's elections and our return to the United States will be after the elections have taken place. While I promised myself to have no boundaries and learn all that I can, I would still love to focus on healthcare while in Mozambique. HIV and AIDS is one of the big issues in Mozambique, particulary since the country is borderd by South Africa, which is experiencing one the greatest AIDS epidemics in the world. While elections are a time for the individuals in a country to elect the candidate they feel best represents their views, it is a also a time for the elected officials to step up and take action.
One of my goals with the upcoming election in Mozambique will be to ask former leaders and supporters/members of the two major political parties what they intend to do about the rise of the AIDS epidemic. What sort of actions will have been taken to prevent further incline in the AIDS epidemic, and what plans have failed during the current party's term? To answer these quesitons, I am currently looking into multiple databases to find what sorts of preventative care has been taking place in the country to date. I also feel that it will be important to survey the locals in Mozambique and ask what their government has done to fight the AIDS epidemic and what sorts of plans have been promised by the parties in the upcoming elections.
From a medical standpoint, I feel it is first and foremost important to educate the people of the country about the disease and the various means by which the virus is spread. Preventative care is much more efficient, cost effective, and successful than treatment. In the United States, children are taught about the virus that causes AIDS and safe sex practices from as early as on as grade school. I want to know how people in Mozambique, children and adults, are being approached about this sensitive issue. It is the job of the government to make its citizens aware of the dangers of this particular virus and to help them understand what it is and how the spread of HIV can be all together avoided. While I have plenty of reading and understanding to do regarding AIDS in Mozambique before I actually travel, I think this an issue worthwhile exploring.
Depending on the concerns of my group members and time, I also want to look into how the running candidates plan to handle the problems dealing with access to healthcare in Mozambique. One of the most basic problems is access to healthcare facilities due to poor road conditions and seasonal floods. Also many facilities lack basic testing equipment, even proper waste disposal and/or water. I think that these issues can and need to be part of the budget plan of the incoming candidates. I look forward to working with my group members and hopefully in some shape or form being able to contribute to better overall health in Mozambique.
