Students and faculty assess AIDS in Africa

For three weeks this summer, a group of CMU students and faculty did
something most can’t imagine.

They went to South Africa, the second-most AIDS and HIV-stricken
country in the world, to study the diseases firsthand.

When they arrived, they were overwhelmed with what they saw.

“Seeing all the suffering and not being able to assist was painful
for (the students),” said professor of health sciences Joseph Inungu.
“In addition, it was unpleasant for them to breathe and stay in
unhygienic hospices where patients were kept.”

The group consisted of Inungu, Professor of Human Environmental
Studies Ivy Goduka, Grand Ledge senior Andrea Thelen, Spring Lake
senior Erika Thomas and Orchard Lake junior Gina Ventimiglia.

“The team was on a fact-finding mission on the prevalence of HIV and
AIDS in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa,” Goduka said.

Not only were they there to seek out information, they were there to
get involved, while at the same time internationalizing the curriculum
for CMU’s Vision 2010 program.

“I went to go to South Africa to explore the possibility of
establishing a study abroad program to allow my students and myself to
become involved with burning social issues,” Inungu said.

In addition, Inungu said the goal of the trip was to evaluate the
needs of citizens in South Africa.

Goduka said he also wanted to see how their group could work with
the government and community to battle the epidemic.

The devastation was not only a shock to the students, but also to
the professors who traveled with them.

“I knew that the prevalence of HIV was high in South Africa,” Inungu
said. “Seeing the number of infected people, orphans and widows was a
different story.”

Goduka agreed.

“The situation was worse than expected in every community we
visited,” Goduka said. “It was emotionally and spiritually draining.”

The group participated in several activities within the community,
including visiting orphans with AIDS and hospice facilities designed
for people living with and dying from the virus. They also went
door-to-door to talk to HIV and AIDS victims and their families.

“In some communities, we were invited to the meetings and
participated in discussions,” Goduka said. “In some of the meetings,
people living with HIV and AIDS expressed a need for educating families
and communities about the seriousness of the diseases, treatment and
prevention.”

Despite feeling helpless against the epidemic and overwhelmed by the
conditions there, both professors said they hope to go again.