United States Counsel-General in Durban, Ms. Jill Dederian, Visits Mpilonhle
United States Counsel General in Durban, Ms. Jill Derderian visited Mpilonhle on 26 May 2009. Ms. Olga Mashia, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Youth Specialist, and Ms. Jeanette Bloem and Luyanda Ngonyama, Project Managers for Family Health International (FHI), accompanied Ms. Derderian on her visit.
Ms. Derderian has extensive experience serving the United States Government in southern Africa, and is acutely aware of the economic and social challenges that face rural populations.
Ms. Derderian visited two of the three Mpilonhle mobile health and computer units – one at Mbongeni School, a rural, isolated school of 400 students, and the other at Nomathiya, a 1500 student technical high school. Ms. Derderian saw the individual health counseling and screening, the group health education sessions, and the computer education that Mpilonhle offers to students. She also observed the nursing and social work services that Mpilonhle offers as part of its comprehensive, integrated approach to HIV prevention and care.
The visiting team had discussions with teachers at Mbongeni High School, and shared a box lunch with students at Nomathiya High School. In the meetings, both teachers and students brought up the challenges that they face in rural schools, their concerns about HIV and AIDS, and their aspirations for the future. The also expressed appreciation for the services provided by Mpilonhle, which they feel have spill over to other aspects of student life – resulting in students being more engaged in their academic activities, and providing them with the life skills to better meet the challenges they face. And to stay health doing it.
Ms. Derderian told both teachers and students that “The people of the United State and its government realize the challenges you face, and are gratified to be able to assist you in building the new democratic South Africa. Our United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which is the major donor for Mpilonhle, is evidence of that commitment”.
Ms. Derderian finished the day by meeting staff at the Mpilonhle office, including the three Peace Corps Volunteers working with Mpilonhle. She told Mpilonhle staff “She greatly appreciates the hard you are doing, and the commitment you have to the communities you are working in. PEPFAR’s enormous success to date in the many countries it works in has been because of persons like you”.