THE SWAZI LADY WHO LIVED IN A SHOE

We thought you might be interested in Gary’s submission to the Peace Corps Newsletter. Because he is the oldest volunteer in the country, they asked him to impart his wisdom with a monthly submission. This is a first attempt at poetry. “OVC” is orphaned and vulnerable children.

There was an old lady who lived in a shoe;
She had so many children, she didn’t know what to do.
Why so many children? I hear some of you cry.
“’Cause this is Swaziland” is her curt reply.
“We’re known as the ‘family OVC’;
Our other initials are HIV, some of us positive, some of us not.
We cling together ‘cause we’re all that we’ve got.
Does the king know we’re here? Apparently not,
So we cling together; we’re all that we’ve got.
I’ve asked GoGo Hlubard to go to her cupboard to see what she could spare,
But when she got there, the cupboard was bare; it seems no-one cares.
Does the king know we’re here? Apparently not
So we cling to each other ‘cause we’re all that we’ve got.
I appealed to our local NGO. They’d like to help, they want me to know.
They’re looking for funds to spread around; I just hope they reach us before we’re aground.
I’ve met with my friendly PCV; she teaches sustainability;
And with quite a bit of audacity, she’s helping me build capacity.
But does the king know we’re here? Probably not.
So we’ll cling to each other ‘cause we’re all that we’ve got.”
So why does an old woman live in a shoe?
Because she has so many children she doesn’t know what else to do.

And last but not least, an update on the financial crisis of Swaziland as being experienced by Good Shepherd Hospital. The government has not paid salaries for any of the hospital staff since the end of March. The hospital has gotten a loan to pay salaries for the last three months, but the bank, not surprisingly, has indicated that they will not give them a further loan. Suppliers are not being paid so naturally the hospital is running out of supplies. For example, there are no “sharp” containers for contaminated needles; I expect drugs will soon become an issue. The staff, all but physicians, struck last month when salaries were a week late. No one knows how salaries will be paid the 25th of July and the staff has indicated they will strike again if not paid on time. Patients were taken care of by senior staff and student nurses during the strike. I plan to help out if the nurses strike again as I shouldn’t be battling any ticks. A physician from Zimbabwe told me that this scenario is a repeat of what happened to her country in 2006-07, except Swaziland is less resilient because of the higher percentage of poor. South Africa may give Swaziland a loan, with many strings attached, as they don’t want a repeat of the Zimbabwe experience that caused a huge surge of refugees into their country. Needless to say, staff is already leaving for jobs in surrounding countries. Interesting times to be living through!

And now a brief word about the school (from Gary). Three of my teaching acquaintances have told me that they are considering leaving the country for jobs where they are sure to be paid. They've jokingly told me I might be the last one standing on campus. If government announces tomorrow that the 10% pay cuts are in effect, teachers will go on strike immediately. If the announcement is not made, a strike is scheduled for July 27 and will be in effect until there is a change in government. And one of them told me the rumor that the king has purchased an island in the South Pacific. Interesting times, indeed.