Nakuru is not far from the equator and today we travelled to Mogotio, even closer to the equator. We were there to irrigate onions, peppers and other vegetables. The irrigation process for a small shamba (smallholding) is fiddly and time consuming. The field is beside a river. The pump is petrol operated. But the process of attaching bits of pipe so that the water reaches the farthest parts of the shamba takes several people and a lot of time.
In fact, it's a process of attaching, detaching and re-attaching bits of pipe until the whole job is done. While two people add and remove pipes, two others use hoes to make furrows for the water to flow through and block furrows where adequate water has entered. Why do people not use good lengths of flexible pipe or drip irrigation?
This is a one acre shamba, the kind and size that many Kenyans own. It's for growing small amounts of produce. It's labour intensive but labour is cheap, flexible pipe and other pieces of equipment are expensive. If the shamba was bigger and more productive, we could afford drip irrigation or some other form of irrigation, but this sort of technology is beyond the means of most people here.
So I was pretty annoyed to come across an article about some 'clever' people who have developed a device which allows a farmer to SMS or call a number to turn on their irrigation system. Great, but people who can afford an irrigation system that can be switched on and off don't have to do much work on the shamba themselves. They employ people to do it. It's not the first time I have seen articles about how brilliant mobile phones are. They have their uses but most of the problems poor people suffer don't go away just because they have a mobile phone.
I also came across an article about how Uganda is using mobile phones to spread the 'message' about HIV. Do they really think their unsuccessful and very expensive programmes over the last 20 years failed because of the medium that was used? How much evidence do they need that the problem was not just with the medium?. Many people there and in other countries know all sorts of things about HIV, not all of them true. But they still engage in the sort of behaviour that is thought to spread HIV. So why should spreading the 'message' by mobile phone change anything?
Anyhow, as well as hoeing and irrigating the shamba, we were in Mogotio to demonstrate the process of solar cooking to some people there. We cooked rice, ugali (boiled maize meal) and sukuma wiki (a popular collard green). Sounds a bit starchy but Kenyans like a fair bit of starch. The result was excellent. The area is so hot that things cooked quickly. So the workers in the field were impressed at the large amount of food they were provided with and even more impressed that no charcoal or wood had been used in the cooking process.
I had my worries about the ugali. It is almost worshiped here and getting it wrong could be fatal. But it turned out pretty solid and sticky. I have tried a few other things, stew, various vegetables, even soda bread. They are very good, as long as the sun lasts. So it's time to be more adventurous and do a bit of experimenting. I have no doubt that some 'genius' will be able to invent a device that pulls a screen across the solar cooker when the food is cooked. Until then, I'll just use the time honoured process of looking at the food.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Selling Sunlight on the Equator
We have been trying out the solar cookers. Having faced the problem of too much wind, too much dust, too little sun and too much rain, yesterday started off well and sunny. But half way through the cooking, the sky clouded over and stayed that way. We hadn't even taken the precaution of having some charcoal handy. After a lengthy walk, we got the charcoal and finished cooking the partially cooked food. It was good but not good enough to sell solar cooking to a sceptical audience.
Today was very sunny and, starting earlier, the food was cooked to perfection in less than two hours. The only thermostat available here is experience and I must admit, I left it all on for a bit too long. The food tastes good but is a bit drier than it should be. As it was so sunny, I slipped in a soda bread loaf, which is browning nicely right now. But the sun has again slipped behind the clouds.
So, as a precaution, we could take some cooking baskets with us when we go out in the field. We were hoping to find people to make these baskets for us as they are very expensive in the supermarkets. But we'll get to all that eventually. And we need to make sure that we start early in the morning and that there is charcoal available if things go wrong.
While I cooked today, some people in the house next to me were cooking with charcoal. They were cooking the whole time I was cooking, so it's not just solar cooking that takes a long time. While I cooked, I also washed the clothes, read some articles and wrote a blog entry. I'm just trying to anticipate the comments I'll get!
Well, it could be worse. We are now pretty much prepared to face the hungry mob and demonstrate the process of cooking on a solar cooker. Now that we've tried it out a few times, I feel far more confident. Let's see if I still feel the same way after a few demonstrations. But I love the idea of selling sunlight on the equator.
Today was very sunny and, starting earlier, the food was cooked to perfection in less than two hours. The only thermostat available here is experience and I must admit, I left it all on for a bit too long. The food tastes good but is a bit drier than it should be. As it was so sunny, I slipped in a soda bread loaf, which is browning nicely right now. But the sun has again slipped behind the clouds.
So, as a precaution, we could take some cooking baskets with us when we go out in the field. We were hoping to find people to make these baskets for us as they are very expensive in the supermarkets. But we'll get to all that eventually. And we need to make sure that we start early in the morning and that there is charcoal available if things go wrong.
While I cooked today, some people in the house next to me were cooking with charcoal. They were cooking the whole time I was cooking, so it's not just solar cooking that takes a long time. While I cooked, I also washed the clothes, read some articles and wrote a blog entry. I'm just trying to anticipate the comments I'll get!
Well, it could be worse. We are now pretty much prepared to face the hungry mob and demonstrate the process of cooking on a solar cooker. Now that we've tried it out a few times, I feel far more confident. Let's see if I still feel the same way after a few demonstrations. But I love the idea of selling sunlight on the equator.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Some Things Change, Some Stay the Same
The Preliminary Report of the Kenya Aids Indicator Survey (KAIS) was released last July and was based on data collected in 2007. Prevalence was estimated to be 7.8% among 15-49 year olds (7.4% among 15-64 year olds). Many parties expressed surprise that HIV prevalence had increased since 2003, when the Demographic and Health Survey estimated prevalence to be 6.7% among 15-49 year olds.
HIV prevalence in Kenya peaked in the late 1990s and fell rapidly thereafter into the early 2000s. Prevalence fell because death rates were very high. But death rates peaked in the early to mid 2000s. If there had been few new HIV infections in the early to mid 2000s, HIV should have stabilized at a fairly low level. This didn't happen. Instead, prevalence increased.
One possible reason that HIV prevalence has been increasing throughout this decade is that antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been keeping many HIV positive people alive. However, the number of Kenyans on ART by 2005 was very small. Numbers have increased since then, although it's not yet clear what effect this will have on national prevalence figures.
Another possible reason why HIV prevalence has been increasing is that there are many people becoming newly infected every year. While huge sums of money have been poured into treatment and care for HIV positive people and their dependents, very little has been spent on prevention. What has been spent on prevention has been wasted on pointless finger-wagging about how people should and shouldn't lead their sex lives.
The final KAIS report was launched in the last few days. I can't find a copy of it online but there have been many articles about it and they all, like this one, talk about the report as if these figures are new and surprising. It is not surprising that there are more people living in rural areas infected with HIV. The vast majority of Kenyans live in rural areas. Prevalence is lower in rural areas than in urban areas but the absolute numbers are higher. This is not a new trend.
Various commentators in various articles have resolved to deal with trends noted by the KAIS report but many of these trends go back many years. Even the KAIS figures are already two years out of date. And there are likely to be quite different trends now because, in case these commentators haven't noticed, some profound changes have taken place in the lives of all Kenyans. There was a violent election campaign, a violent election and a particularly violent post election period, during which many people were killed, injured and displaced. There have been energy shortages, food shortages, water shortages, a global economic collapse, increasing unemployment and, no doubt, countless other pressures on people's lives.
Some things are not the same now as they were two years ago, when data was collected for KAIS. They are certainly not the same as they were in 2003. But the HIV prevention work that is being carried out by Kenya's health and HIV agencies is pretty much unaffected by anything that has happened in the last ten and perhaps even twenty years.
Consequently, HIV prevention continues to be given low priority and takes forms that continue to have little or no impact. That's why a recent survey of 13-19 year olds shows that, many years and tens of millions of dollars later, less than 50% understand what abstinence means. More importantly, only 20% understand what being faithful means and only 7% fully comprehend condom use. The question is, do the 48% who can say what abstinence means really understand sex and safe sex? I think the answer is clearly 'no'; all they have taken in is a definition. They will not be able to protect themselves adequately, despite being able to parrot definitions of abstinence and the like.
HIV prevention work in Kenya needs to do new things, not continue with the failed, dogmatic activities of the past. Children (and adults) need to know what sex and safe sex are, they need to know how to protect themselves and often, they need protection. There are young people pouring into Nairobi and other cities now, they are desperate for work and until they find work, countless thousands will become involved in some form of transactional sex. People's living conditions need to be changed so that they don't face such dangers.
HIV policy needs to be based on what is happening now, not what was happening, or what someone thought was happening, years ago. And policies that failed years ago need to be changed, not shored up with excuses. HIV trends can change very quickly and all Kenyans are at risk of becoming infected, though some are at higher risk than others. There is no point in just concentrating on high prevalence areas, as one Kenyan WHO representative suggests; low prevalence areas can quickly become high prevalence areas. Also, absolute numbers can be a far better indicator than percentages when it comes to describing how an epidemic is spreading.
But the Kenyan government needs also to concentrate on people's lives, livelihoods, environments and opportunities. People still need the things they have always needed, health, education, social services, infrastructure, good housing, employment and protection from harm. Relevant authorities such as the National Aids Control Council and, indeed UNAIDS, need to be able to distinguish between the things that change and the things that don't change.
HIV prevalence in Kenya peaked in the late 1990s and fell rapidly thereafter into the early 2000s. Prevalence fell because death rates were very high. But death rates peaked in the early to mid 2000s. If there had been few new HIV infections in the early to mid 2000s, HIV should have stabilized at a fairly low level. This didn't happen. Instead, prevalence increased.
One possible reason that HIV prevalence has been increasing throughout this decade is that antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been keeping many HIV positive people alive. However, the number of Kenyans on ART by 2005 was very small. Numbers have increased since then, although it's not yet clear what effect this will have on national prevalence figures.
Another possible reason why HIV prevalence has been increasing is that there are many people becoming newly infected every year. While huge sums of money have been poured into treatment and care for HIV positive people and their dependents, very little has been spent on prevention. What has been spent on prevention has been wasted on pointless finger-wagging about how people should and shouldn't lead their sex lives.
The final KAIS report was launched in the last few days. I can't find a copy of it online but there have been many articles about it and they all, like this one, talk about the report as if these figures are new and surprising. It is not surprising that there are more people living in rural areas infected with HIV. The vast majority of Kenyans live in rural areas. Prevalence is lower in rural areas than in urban areas but the absolute numbers are higher. This is not a new trend.
Various commentators in various articles have resolved to deal with trends noted by the KAIS report but many of these trends go back many years. Even the KAIS figures are already two years out of date. And there are likely to be quite different trends now because, in case these commentators haven't noticed, some profound changes have taken place in the lives of all Kenyans. There was a violent election campaign, a violent election and a particularly violent post election period, during which many people were killed, injured and displaced. There have been energy shortages, food shortages, water shortages, a global economic collapse, increasing unemployment and, no doubt, countless other pressures on people's lives.
Some things are not the same now as they were two years ago, when data was collected for KAIS. They are certainly not the same as they were in 2003. But the HIV prevention work that is being carried out by Kenya's health and HIV agencies is pretty much unaffected by anything that has happened in the last ten and perhaps even twenty years.
Consequently, HIV prevention continues to be given low priority and takes forms that continue to have little or no impact. That's why a recent survey of 13-19 year olds shows that, many years and tens of millions of dollars later, less than 50% understand what abstinence means. More importantly, only 20% understand what being faithful means and only 7% fully comprehend condom use. The question is, do the 48% who can say what abstinence means really understand sex and safe sex? I think the answer is clearly 'no'; all they have taken in is a definition. They will not be able to protect themselves adequately, despite being able to parrot definitions of abstinence and the like.
HIV prevention work in Kenya needs to do new things, not continue with the failed, dogmatic activities of the past. Children (and adults) need to know what sex and safe sex are, they need to know how to protect themselves and often, they need protection. There are young people pouring into Nairobi and other cities now, they are desperate for work and until they find work, countless thousands will become involved in some form of transactional sex. People's living conditions need to be changed so that they don't face such dangers.
HIV policy needs to be based on what is happening now, not what was happening, or what someone thought was happening, years ago. And policies that failed years ago need to be changed, not shored up with excuses. HIV trends can change very quickly and all Kenyans are at risk of becoming infected, though some are at higher risk than others. There is no point in just concentrating on high prevalence areas, as one Kenyan WHO representative suggests; low prevalence areas can quickly become high prevalence areas. Also, absolute numbers can be a far better indicator than percentages when it comes to describing how an epidemic is spreading.
But the Kenyan government needs also to concentrate on people's lives, livelihoods, environments and opportunities. People still need the things they have always needed, health, education, social services, infrastructure, good housing, employment and protection from harm. Relevant authorities such as the National Aids Control Council and, indeed UNAIDS, need to be able to distinguish between the things that change and the things that don't change.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Painting Pots Black
This is not to stir up the long running dispute between the pots and the kettles. We're painting pots black so we can use them with the solar cookers we purchased during the week from Solar Cookers International. We've talked to people who work with, make and research solar devices and we've talked to those who want to buy them and use them. Now it's time to go out and demonstrate them and, hopefully, persuade people to part with the $6 or so that they need to invest.
Of course, people need to invest a little time and, god forbid, they need to embrace change, just a tiny bit of change! We can make ourselves some food over the weekend and decide on the best ways to demonstrate these devices. I'm looking forward to it but I'm also a bit apprehensive. After all, much of what I believe about development could be severely tested over the next week or so.
We will be working in and around Nakuru. My colleagues have been working here for some time and they have introduced me to various community support groups. Most of these groups have grown around the need to support people who are HIV positive, people who are directly affected by HIV and, particularly, those who are on antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Some of the groups are very active, with volunteers making regular visits to those who need support of various kinds, who need to be taken to hospital, who are having problems affording school fees or rent and whatever. Many of the groups are already exploring ways of making some money, such as growing and selling fruit, vegetables, milk, eggs and the like. Others make things and sell them.
Solar cookers are a bit different from other activities these groups are involved in. If someone buys a solar cooker, they have the means of saving money they would spend on charcoal. They may save the time they spend collecting firewood. They can use the cookers to cook food, dry food and boil water, the last being particularly important for people who are HIV positive.
People who are HIV positive need to be very careful about how they live their lives, what they eat and drink, what dangers they may be exposing themselves to. Their immune system is damaged by HIV and, even though many are on treatment, they still have to be careful. It is hoped that one more way of pasteurising water will be of great help in reducing exposure to diarrhoea and other water borne diseases.
Today, my colleague and I went to a support group at the camp for internally displaced persons (IDP) just outside town. People there are just trying to get by, some doing well, some not so well. We were accompanied by a woman who works for an agency that gives microloans to help people set up small businesses. Hopefully, they will see the benefits of solar cooking and, if they can come up with the money, also buy some cookers. And maybe some of them will want to take things further and use the cookers to produce something they can cook and sell.
That's the hope, anyhow. I'll write up what happens here, even if it shatters my heartfelt beliefs!
Of course, people need to invest a little time and, god forbid, they need to embrace change, just a tiny bit of change! We can make ourselves some food over the weekend and decide on the best ways to demonstrate these devices. I'm looking forward to it but I'm also a bit apprehensive. After all, much of what I believe about development could be severely tested over the next week or so.
We will be working in and around Nakuru. My colleagues have been working here for some time and they have introduced me to various community support groups. Most of these groups have grown around the need to support people who are HIV positive, people who are directly affected by HIV and, particularly, those who are on antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Some of the groups are very active, with volunteers making regular visits to those who need support of various kinds, who need to be taken to hospital, who are having problems affording school fees or rent and whatever. Many of the groups are already exploring ways of making some money, such as growing and selling fruit, vegetables, milk, eggs and the like. Others make things and sell them.
Solar cookers are a bit different from other activities these groups are involved in. If someone buys a solar cooker, they have the means of saving money they would spend on charcoal. They may save the time they spend collecting firewood. They can use the cookers to cook food, dry food and boil water, the last being particularly important for people who are HIV positive.
People who are HIV positive need to be very careful about how they live their lives, what they eat and drink, what dangers they may be exposing themselves to. Their immune system is damaged by HIV and, even though many are on treatment, they still have to be careful. It is hoped that one more way of pasteurising water will be of great help in reducing exposure to diarrhoea and other water borne diseases.
Today, my colleague and I went to a support group at the camp for internally displaced persons (IDP) just outside town. People there are just trying to get by, some doing well, some not so well. We were accompanied by a woman who works for an agency that gives microloans to help people set up small businesses. Hopefully, they will see the benefits of solar cooking and, if they can come up with the money, also buy some cookers. And maybe some of them will want to take things further and use the cookers to produce something they can cook and sell.
That's the hope, anyhow. I'll write up what happens here, even if it shatters my heartfelt beliefs!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
International Policy Network Partly Right and Partly Wrong About HIV/Aids
Philip Stevens of the International Policy Network questions the wisdom of spending so much money on a single illness, HIV/Aids, and asks if this can do more harm than good. I have long been asking the same question. My feelings are that it has done very little good and has probably done a lot of harm, especially to HIV prevention efforts.
The health of a nation is unlikely to be made or broken by one, single health condition. Even when there is a serious epidemic, there are probably always more people suffering from and dying from ordinary, every day things than from that epidemic disease. Health depends on people's lifestyles, living conditions, levels of nutrition and food security, education and economic circumstances, for example.
Stevens rightly criticizes UNAIDS's prioritization of treatment over prevention. Since treatments for HIV have been developed, far more money has always been spent on that than on prevention. So while many have been treated, millions more have become infected. Greater emphasis on prevention could have made a lot of difference, although precious few effective prevention interventions have been developed and implemented in any high HIV prevalence countries.
Stevens also mentions the poor and declining state of health infrastructure in high HIV prevalence countries. Indeed, some of the major funding bodies involved in pouring money into HIV treatment and care (and a little prevention) were, at the same time, urging developing countries to reduce spending on health, education and other social services.
If it is the case that some parties have claimed that everyone in the world is at equal risk of becoming infected with HIV, then this is truly shameful. I think the message was that every sexually active person is at risk, which is true. But it is not true that everyone faces equal risk. Perhaps this message has been confused by publicists, politicians, church leaders and various money grabbers who knew nothing about health, least of all HIV, but still wanted to get on the bandwaggon for their own ends.
And Stevens is wrong to claim that UNAIDS exaggerated the numbers of people infected and were 'embarrassingly forced to revise down the estimates for dozens of countries'. Methods of estimating numbers were improved, that's why the figures went down. Many figures are still very doubtful in that they could be higher or lower than presently estimated. Kenya was one of the countries for whom figures were revised down. A short time later they had to be revised up again.
Stephens' analysis, I think, is misleading. He makes it sound as if HIV/Aids is still a problem, but less of a problem that it was. I disagree. I believe that we neither have enough data to support his view nor directly to refute it. But there is plenty of evidence that people in high HIV prevalence countries still face serious and perhaps increasing risk of becoming infected.
I hope Stevens is right that donors have finally realized the folly of directing so much money towards one disease. However, I don't think he is right. I think he has allowed himself to be fooled by all the rhetoric about strengthening primary health care and health systems. If that is ever going to happen, I'll believe it when I see it.
The health of a nation is unlikely to be made or broken by one, single health condition. Even when there is a serious epidemic, there are probably always more people suffering from and dying from ordinary, every day things than from that epidemic disease. Health depends on people's lifestyles, living conditions, levels of nutrition and food security, education and economic circumstances, for example.
Stevens rightly criticizes UNAIDS's prioritization of treatment over prevention. Since treatments for HIV have been developed, far more money has always been spent on that than on prevention. So while many have been treated, millions more have become infected. Greater emphasis on prevention could have made a lot of difference, although precious few effective prevention interventions have been developed and implemented in any high HIV prevalence countries.
Stevens also mentions the poor and declining state of health infrastructure in high HIV prevalence countries. Indeed, some of the major funding bodies involved in pouring money into HIV treatment and care (and a little prevention) were, at the same time, urging developing countries to reduce spending on health, education and other social services.
If it is the case that some parties have claimed that everyone in the world is at equal risk of becoming infected with HIV, then this is truly shameful. I think the message was that every sexually active person is at risk, which is true. But it is not true that everyone faces equal risk. Perhaps this message has been confused by publicists, politicians, church leaders and various money grabbers who knew nothing about health, least of all HIV, but still wanted to get on the bandwaggon for their own ends.
And Stevens is wrong to claim that UNAIDS exaggerated the numbers of people infected and were 'embarrassingly forced to revise down the estimates for dozens of countries'. Methods of estimating numbers were improved, that's why the figures went down. Many figures are still very doubtful in that they could be higher or lower than presently estimated. Kenya was one of the countries for whom figures were revised down. A short time later they had to be revised up again.
Stephens' analysis, I think, is misleading. He makes it sound as if HIV/Aids is still a problem, but less of a problem that it was. I disagree. I believe that we neither have enough data to support his view nor directly to refute it. But there is plenty of evidence that people in high HIV prevalence countries still face serious and perhaps increasing risk of becoming infected.
I hope Stevens is right that donors have finally realized the folly of directing so much money towards one disease. However, I don't think he is right. I think he has allowed himself to be fooled by all the rhetoric about strengthening primary health care and health systems. If that is ever going to happen, I'll believe it when I see it.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
There is Always More Than One Way to Prevent a Disease from Spreading
A church spokesperson in Botswana has said that the only way to win the battle against HIV is to change people's behaviour. It's true that people need to change their behaviour but that is by no means the only way to fight against HIV.
The church leaders could consider Botswana's main source of revenue. It's not very difficult, mining accounts for something like 70% of the country's total revenue. Areas around extractive industries in African countries have some of the highest rates of HIV anywhere.
Why is this? Well, most of the extractive industries are controlled by a few, extremely rich firms, who are usually foreign and absentee. They pay as little as possible in taxes and they are usually able to keep their costs low with the help of obligingly lax labour laws.
So millions of poor people migrate for long periods to the slums that grow around the mines. These slums are mostly inhabited by male workers, without their wives and families. Some mining firms even provide accommodation for their employees but it is almost always dormitory accommodation and of a very low standard.
Unsurprisingly, some women also move to these slums to find work, mainly as sex workers. There is little to do in dormitory accommodation during free time, aside from going to bars and sleeping with sex workers. People become infected, people infect other people.
Extractive industries come with many hazards, poor health and disease being just some of these hazards. TB, for example, is very common, as are other occupational conditions. So some healthy and some sick people all come together and the result is many sick people who then return to their home areas to infect their wives and families.
Rather than just praying for people to change their behaviour, they could approach the owners of extractive industries, many of whom, I'm sure, are Christians. They could also lobby politicians, another group that should contain some Christians. And here are a few things they could ask them to do:
- Improve labour laws so that workers, including migrants and seasonal migrants, are protected
- Improve health services and health screening and allow access to all employees
- Improve working conditions for those in and around the mines
- Improve living conditions, perhaps by providing proper housing and infrastructure
- Provide married/family accommodation for those who need it
- Provide sources of entertainment for people, things to do aside from drink
- Provide subsidized transport for husbands/fathers to visit families or for families to visit husbands/fathers
- Provide decent wages and benefits for miners and other workers
- Protect small landowners and artisanal miners who are affected by big mining operations moving in
Apparently substantial amounts of gold have just been found in Kenya. So there is plenty that church leaders here can do to avoid their future mining areas experiencing the sort of HIV transmission levels as those found in Botswana.
Diseases are not just spread by individual behaviour. The conditions in which people live, in which the behaviour takes place, are also important. These conditions can and must be influenced and changed.
The church leaders could consider Botswana's main source of revenue. It's not very difficult, mining accounts for something like 70% of the country's total revenue. Areas around extractive industries in African countries have some of the highest rates of HIV anywhere.
Why is this? Well, most of the extractive industries are controlled by a few, extremely rich firms, who are usually foreign and absentee. They pay as little as possible in taxes and they are usually able to keep their costs low with the help of obligingly lax labour laws.
So millions of poor people migrate for long periods to the slums that grow around the mines. These slums are mostly inhabited by male workers, without their wives and families. Some mining firms even provide accommodation for their employees but it is almost always dormitory accommodation and of a very low standard.
Unsurprisingly, some women also move to these slums to find work, mainly as sex workers. There is little to do in dormitory accommodation during free time, aside from going to bars and sleeping with sex workers. People become infected, people infect other people.
Extractive industries come with many hazards, poor health and disease being just some of these hazards. TB, for example, is very common, as are other occupational conditions. So some healthy and some sick people all come together and the result is many sick people who then return to their home areas to infect their wives and families.
Rather than just praying for people to change their behaviour, they could approach the owners of extractive industries, many of whom, I'm sure, are Christians. They could also lobby politicians, another group that should contain some Christians. And here are a few things they could ask them to do:
- Improve labour laws so that workers, including migrants and seasonal migrants, are protected
- Improve health services and health screening and allow access to all employees
- Improve working conditions for those in and around the mines
- Improve living conditions, perhaps by providing proper housing and infrastructure
- Provide married/family accommodation for those who need it
- Provide sources of entertainment for people, things to do aside from drink
- Provide subsidized transport for husbands/fathers to visit families or for families to visit husbands/fathers
- Provide decent wages and benefits for miners and other workers
- Protect small landowners and artisanal miners who are affected by big mining operations moving in
Apparently substantial amounts of gold have just been found in Kenya. So there is plenty that church leaders here can do to avoid their future mining areas experiencing the sort of HIV transmission levels as those found in Botswana.
Diseases are not just spread by individual behaviour. The conditions in which people live, in which the behaviour takes place, are also important. These conditions can and must be influenced and changed.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Meaningless Figures and Empty Achievements
Because the Kenyan government is so busy concentrating on the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) to ensure that all children complete primary school education, goal 2, they seem to have forgotten that schools require teachers. It is is estimated that they are short of about 65,000 teachers, mostly in the primary sector.
This demonstrates the futility of aiming at some defined 'goal' at all costs. Since Kibaki announced that there would be free primary education in 2003, the enabling conditions for providing this education have been ignored. Millions more children have since been enrolled, often into hopelessly large classes.
But many of them will not complete primary education. There will be times they are not able to attend school, for various reasons, often related to poverty. Many will eventually drop out. And part of the aim of MDG 2, to ensure that girls as well as boys are enrolled, will also be frustrated. Girls are usually more affected than boys when families have to take their children out of school.
Then, yet another aim of MDG 2, to increase the literacy rate of 15-24 year olds, is also likely to be missed. But if you go to the MDG monitor site, you will be fed 'good' news, if there is any. There just doesn't happen to be any data at all for Kenya. But having good figures for enrollment is not really good news if many are not attending school or have dropped out, or if there are such serious shortages of teachers and resources.
Achieving MDG 2 is not just a matter of bumping up the enrollment figures, so let's not be deceived by these good news stories. Unless the country can fill the huge gap in teacher training and recruitment and also provide genuinely free primary education, the goal will never be achieved. At present, it will not be achieved by 2015, so if the country claims to achieve it we need to scrutinize the figures very carefully.
This demonstrates the futility of aiming at some defined 'goal' at all costs. Since Kibaki announced that there would be free primary education in 2003, the enabling conditions for providing this education have been ignored. Millions more children have since been enrolled, often into hopelessly large classes.
But many of them will not complete primary education. There will be times they are not able to attend school, for various reasons, often related to poverty. Many will eventually drop out. And part of the aim of MDG 2, to ensure that girls as well as boys are enrolled, will also be frustrated. Girls are usually more affected than boys when families have to take their children out of school.
Then, yet another aim of MDG 2, to increase the literacy rate of 15-24 year olds, is also likely to be missed. But if you go to the MDG monitor site, you will be fed 'good' news, if there is any. There just doesn't happen to be any data at all for Kenya. But having good figures for enrollment is not really good news if many are not attending school or have dropped out, or if there are such serious shortages of teachers and resources.
Achieving MDG 2 is not just a matter of bumping up the enrollment figures, so let's not be deceived by these good news stories. Unless the country can fill the huge gap in teacher training and recruitment and also provide genuinely free primary education, the goal will never be achieved. At present, it will not be achieved by 2015, so if the country claims to achieve it we need to scrutinize the figures very carefully.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
