Another AMAZING person, Dr. Nkya

My blog is working again and I would like to celebrate by introducing you to one of the most amazing people I have met during my Tanzania travels, Dr. Nkya.

The picture above shows Dr. Nkya between Karleen and myself. Dr. Lucy Nkya is a native Tanzanian and a medical doctor. She is a devout Christian and a loving wife and mother to her 4 grown children. She manages a private hospital in Morogoro that takes care of over 1,000 patients with HIV, over 100 of which are children. She has developed HIV prevention and care programs for the entire country. She is also a member of the Tanzanian Parliament. She holds the seat for HIV/AIDS and Women's Issues. She is a huge proponent of girls education and the rights of people with HIV and she has done some amazing things in Tanzania. Oh yes, and she somehow manages to find time to teach classes as well.

Several weeks ago Dr. Nkya came and gave a lecture on HIV/AIDS to our language school (once a week we have an afternoon 'orientation' that introduces us to part of Tanzanian culture). Then Karleen and I got to spend an additional day with her when she went out to visit a Maasai village. Dr. Nkya said that when Maasai girls go off to boarding school and away from the protection of their father and older brothers, the often become pregnant and infected with HIV. She was discussing with the Maasai elders about opening up a Maasai boarding school in Morogoro to prevent this problem. While we were there she also started a goat income-generation project and made plans for other HIV prevention activities.

Dr. Nkya said that the President of Tanzania (an open-minded Muslim) was in her office last week and asked Dr. Nkya to pray for him. He told Dr. Nyka that she knows him as a playboy type, but that was going to stop that behavior so he could be a good example for how his country should behave and hopefully reduce HIV transmission.

One last note: Dr. Nkya said she always needs medical staff for her hospital, but right now her most crucial need is a dentist. She has all the equipment, chairs, etc. but there is not dentist a use them. She said it is very important because children with HIV particularly have a lot of problems with their mouth and teeth. So, if any of you know a dentist who has nothing to do, tell him or her that they should volunteer their time in Dr. Nkya's hospital.