Wait, wait. What you can do to help a person living with HIV

Yesterday,I got thinking. We do and have done so much to fight HIV. Are you aware the trick is to have people living with HIV on ARVs in order to help them suppress the viral load. This way, they do not succumb to opportunistic infections (OI's). Support positive clubs, support clinics providing ARVs, support the health workers so that they remain motivated, support caregivers at home encourage those in their care adhere.

Help some one keep taking their ARV's

ARV's help in suppressing viral load. It helps one have defend against infections. How you can help: support a friend living with HIV take ARV's, support them have proper nutrition and exercise. Support the health workers coming into interface with persons living with HIV daily. Support the caregivers at home who take care of bed-ridden or house-bound persons. Give voice to the problems faced by people living with HIV.

Star Spangled banner in spring; poem by Thomas Rogers Muyunga Mukasa

This balmy spring,

Once again a welcome moment,

swans swimming in the pond,

the woodpecker bang, bang, bang.

 

An occasional clear sky,

The sun a fiery globe,

A puddle here and there,

The snow giving up its horde.

 

The banner on a lofty perch,

Spread fully by a blowing wind,

Dotted glimming glint,

Of random stars and stripes.

What goes around comes around

One day 10 years ago, in 2002. I was walking along Lake Victoria shores on Ssese Island. I was undecided over what form of transport would take me from this island back to the main land. As I was walking and conversing with the local fisher men, I realized someone was calling me by my pet-name. This name was known by very few people, among whom must be those who saw me grow up to 7 years when it was no longer used because I had then grown permanent teeth! The person who was calling me was the leader of the fishing community and up to today it is still amazing how he was able to recognize me after so many years. My father gave him some money back then to start a business of ferrying people by boats on a very different shore of Lake Victoria. He became so successful in the 30 years or so he has been in business. He now traverses Lake Victoria as he supervises his fleets of small boats and fish businesses. He eventually helped me get a ride in one of the boats that was returning to the main land.

College admits 2,029 | Harvard Gazette

College admits 2,029 | Harvard Gazette

Thomas Rogers Muyunga Mukasa shares; In Jerusalem, Come see a King!

The donkey bearing my Lord!

A reminder for the jubilant crowd,

Of an ancient prophecy coming around,

Behold a King lowly and not proud,

In Jerusalem today He will be found.

Up the magnificent city,

Perched high up and lofty,

My King majestic and mighty,

Reigns over all principality,

I am bestowed with sanctity.

Forever with palm fronds,

Our King we cheer in throngs,

With harp, lyre, cymbal and drums,

He lovingly distributed His shares,

We all have a claim of Jerusalem.

(C) Muyunga-Mukasa

Life Planning Skills Made in America: An immigrant figuring out America (Part I)

You are 16 years old and you want to start a life of your own. Or you are an immigrant and have access to internet and are reading this note. Or you are a newly-settled American. You do need a navigation console. You know, a mother board on which are these hair-thin size capacitors with different directional purposes. Or a solid dash board on which are buttons to press to satisfy a given need.

Needs! Talking of needs! What would be the greatest single most satisfaction one needs to get immediately as a person wishing to strike out on their own? Some would say shelter. Others would say food. Yet others would say clothes and food. I would say all three. I would also quickly add: friends, people or a welcoming unit of persons who are willing to share a space in their home. A home is crucial. It is a launch-pad for many to think straight and figuring out America.

As a person living with others, you need to know or develop people-to-people skills: These are very core, dependable and soft skills: You may be living with persons who have perhaps lived their life following a certain pattern. Study it and also engage them in a conversation. Using the same space, ask about your hosts plans for the next day. Share with them what you intend to do. Also using this same opportunity, inquire whether they have something they want you to do around the house or home or hostel. If they say they have nothing they have thought about, tell them you are ready to do something once there is any opportunity for a helping hand.

If you do have opportunities to jog, walk or do exercises get to understand your environment outside the home. Be like the territorial animal that marks boundaries. But, in your case it will be marking out land-marks. This will help you know the area even batter.

Get to know what other things are based on to lead a life. I have a list for you. This list will inform the way you perceive America or plan to lead your life in America:

Insurance: to cover your health needs. There is need for you to be immunized. Without insurance and with the long list of what America requires one to be immunized against, it cost me USD 500 (March 2013). One thing you have to note is; avoid the so called soliciting agents claiming to represent an insurance company. Look for credible insurance companies for services.

Wireless/Internet: This may be a combined service with TV, Phone and internet. But, you may have one package you need to pay for regularly to avoid being cut off. Beware of the internet and telephone-based scam in form of letters and deals promising you gifts but “that before you get the gift you need to send money.”

Mortgage: Get to learn about mortgage and owning a house of your own. Read the literature and ask around. Be inquisitive and learn how the real estate performs. This may help you know trends.

Education: You may be a graduate or educated up to a certain level from your country. There is a facility in America that grades the qualifications from other countries. The best place to start with is a university of high school near you that you feel you want to join. Most American cities have community support centers where they give counselling and advice in these matters. Visit such places as part of your learning America. Many universities have on-line courses. Register for them. Most are free. Those that require a fee will inform you about it. Beware there are also scams here. Many on-line High School Diploma internet based services are suspect. Be very cautious. They are called “Diploma mills”!

The Library: Register and be a member of a library near you.

Hair cut: Make friends and get to know which hair cut would do a good job with your face, nails and general grooming.

In-door sports: There gymnasiums that require a membership fee to be paid. Try them and enrol. It is good (in fact, imperative) to exercise.

Clothes: Dress to preserve dignity but also as a code of good conduct. Get to know where particular clothes you need are sold.

Energy/Weatherization: Get to know the weather in America. Conserve energy and life.

Gas and Water: Do you know that there are bills as a result of use of water and gas? Adopt a conservative and judicious approach to their use.

Entertainment: The books, radio at home or TV may be the first source of entertainment. Or your source of entertainment could be the conversation at table during dinner or a meal.  Share your expectations with your hosts. Share your likes and dislikes of various films, novels and plays (drama). Ask and learn if you do not know the different genres. Do you know that there is Rock, rumba, salsa, Cuban, blues, oldies, country, thrillers, opera, tragedies....I could go on and on. Get to learn the genres. You could be adept at the instruments or story-telling. Show off your talents. Get to enjoy the home you are living in.

Groceries: Do you know the different kinds of groceries you use at home? Do you know how they are prepared? Get to learn and explore.

Membership: There are must be things that connect you to a given community. Is it the way you stand at the side of the road as the car passes you on a narrow road? Is it the wave at the next door person? Do something about how you are perceived once you are out of the home. This American homes with large windows; this is what they say about them. An American’s house is his watch tower as much as an Englishman’s house is his castle.

Miscellaneous/unbudgeted: Have you ever gone shopping and realized you needed something but it was not budgeted for? Or have you ever gone out and never planned on helping a stray cat get back to its owner, yet you have that bus to catch? That is how tricky life is. Expect surprises and no mercy.

Connections: Get connected, make friends, keep friends, join a church or mosque or temple group or some form of social group (you may be atheist for all I know and am not pointing a figure. That is between you and you). Do you know that I watched my parents die and at a very tender age was left to become the child -head of a house-hold of 13 people? Do you also know I struggled to get them to school and I only read their notes and asked them to be my teachers to compensate for my education? Do you know that now am at Harvard University? Okay if you ask me I shall tell you the story. But for now, be well.