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Helping orphans: Saint Luke’s NICU nurse holds seminar in Tanzania
2006-01-16 07:26:54
By Correspondent
Jennifer Coil, RN, and a NICU nurse at Saint Luke’s Hospital, had something important she wanted to accomplish before college graduation, her nursing boards and beginning a job.
She put them all on hold to raise money so she could travel to Tanzania in summer 2000 on a mission trip.
The daughter of an Episcopal priest, Coil learned, in 2003, about AIDS education and prevention programs sponsored by the Anglican Church in Tanzania.
She learned that Tanzania has documented an HIV infection rate of about 10 percent, which leaves countless children orphaned by parents who have died of AIDS.
’I always wanted to go to another country before settling down into a nursing job, but I had no idea where that would lead me,’ Coil said.
’The opportunity came to go to Tanzania, and I instantly knew God had made this possible. I didn’t know what I would necessarily do, once I arrived, but I left myself open to where the Spirit led.’
Coil learned, first-hand, about the devastating effects of AIDS on children in the Mpwapwa Diocese during her four-month stay.
Her research revealed more than 800 orphans, in eight of the 64 parishes, which represents only 11 percent of the orphan population in the entire diocese.
Since Coil’s return to the United States, she has been fund raising for a large relief effort in the Mpwapwa region.
She calls it Project Saidia Yatima, which is Swahili for ’help orphans.’
’The orphan rate is growing exponentially because of AIDS,’ Coil said.
’This year, Tanzania is again experiencing another famine.
Orphans are the hardest hit by these unfortunate events because they lack any sort of representation.
They are hungry and unkempt. The more people we get involved, the faster the relief can reach those children who are desperate.
Coil returned to Tanzania in December 2005 for 17 days.
Her goal was to raise $5,000 before the trip, and then hold a seminar for people from throughout the diocese.
The seminar was designed to help acknowledge that the orphan rate is indeed a problem and provide a place where brainstorming could happen to make positive changes in the lives of these children.
’I raised $3,000,’ Coil said. ”$500 was to run the seminar and $2,500 went to the diocese there. I absorbed my own travel costs.
’I wanted to empower the church and the people, and to help them establish a program that would work for them. I believe I’m not through there yet. There is such an incredible need that they can’t do it alone.’
Coil created the seminar structure with the help of a Tanzanian from this area, Gayo Mhila.
Two teachers from the diocese ran the seminar, which 25 people attended.
They initiated discussions about how orphans are being treated and created dramas that illustrated their treatment.
In many cases the male head of a household decides, independently, to take in orphans from the extended family.
Many women, who have not participated in this decision, find the children a burden.
As a result, these orphans are required to do many household chores and they often don’t receive schooling or get to eat very well.
’(Seminar) participants created action plans for their areas, which included contact with government officials and educating people from the seminar information,’ Coil said.She is planning another trip to Tanzania in 2007 and already has two other people who want to go along.
’I’m grateful to be (in the United States) and see the choices we have in health care,’ Coil said. ’The difference is vast.’
Anyone who wants to learn about Project Saidia Yatima may e-mail Coil at jencoil@yahoo.com.
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