HIV/Aids

As World AIDS Day approaches (Dec. 1) , we are reminded that millions of people need our help with the AIDS pandemic, but we often think, "What can I do?"

Here is one simple way you can help, and it costs you nothing but a moment and a mouse click . . .

Bristol-Myers Squibb will donate $1 for every person who goes to their web site
https://www. lighttounite. org/[ and lights a candle to fight HIV/AIDS, up to a max of $100,000. At this point, the counter is just over $79,000..... .so we need to light many more candles.

Please go to this link to light a candle...... and help spread the light. (If the link doesn't work for you, please copy and paste it into your browser, and please spread the word) . Together we can make a difference!

I have lit mine!

Tommie Hamaluba


Botswana



AIDS and HIV

AIDS is a disease that has taken the world by storm. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome comes from HIV. HIV is a virus that attacks white blood cells in the body and kills them. Therefore, HIV causes the destruction of the body’s immune system. AIDS and HIV causes the death of millions of people each year. In the United States, Dr. Michael Gottlieb first identified AIDS as a new disease in 1980. Shortly after, in 1981 scientist in New York City started noticing signs of the same disease in people living near them. In 1982, this strange disease was identified as AIDS. Now in 2006, foundations like the American Foundation for AIDS Research, are struggling to find a cure. Several advances in technology have been made in the 15 years. In 1985, tests that detect HIV became available to the public. Also, Dr. Edward Robinson made significant advances in finding antiretroviral drugs that prevent viruses from reproduces. Needless to say, we can all do our part in trying to prevent AIDS from spreading. First of all, we can help by trying to avoid any situations that could possibly result in you coming in contact with infected body fluids. Secondly, we cannot share needles, Is all of us take the necessary precautions, we can help to keep a horrible disease from infecting even more millions of people around the world.

To read this entire paper go to:
HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS and Traditions

By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
NKOLONDOGO, Cameroon –
When Innocent Zamba Manga was born this summer,
doctors advised his mother, Marise, who is H.I.V. positive, not to
breast-feed, because nursing can pass the virus that causes AIDS from
mother to child. Mother and baby left the hospital with bottles and formula
supplied by a Catholic charity.

But the very next week, the proud parents took their baby to the
father's village in the south of Cameroon, to take part in a traditional
birth and naming ceremony. Custom required the new mother to nurse little
Innocent, so she did. And she continued for two weeks.
To read this entire article go to the following website:
HIV/AIDS Traditions

Infectious Diseases Information

Tuberculosis
Ian Day

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by bacterium. It affects the lungs by making them have white lumps of infection. That is why Tuberculosis is also known as the white plague. Tuberculosis is gotten from breathing in the bacteria. It is an airborne disease. Scientists have found remains of people with Tuberculosis from 4000 B.C. In 1882, Robert Koch discovered tubercle bacilli. Today, Tuberculosis is treated with a combination of antibiotics. Antibiotics include isoniazid, rifampin, streptomycin, and a para-aminosalicylic acid. In some cases, Tuberculosis can become immune to one of these antibiotics. This is called drug-resistant Tuberculosis. Ninety-eight percent of people survive with treatment. In the past, there have been other treatments to Tuberculosis that included collapsing lungs, removing ribs, and cutting out parts of the lung. The best prevention to tuberculosis is good ventilation. Since the bacteria can be airborne from infected people coughing, it is good to stay away from people that are infected until they are cured. Regular exercise and a good diet can also prevent Tuberculosis. The BCG vaccine is used in most of the world, although it is not used in the United States. Tuberculosis is spread worldwide. There are over 20,000 cases of Tuberculosis in the United States each year. Almost two billion people in the world have Tuberculosis. Active Tuberculosis is when you get sick from Tuberculosis. You have 5-10% of a chance of getting active tuberculosis if you have tuberculosis. To test for tuberculosis, you must have a skin test or a chest x-ray. Symptoms of Tuberculosis are fever, night sweats, no appetite, weight loss, chest pain, and cough. I hope you now know what tuberculosis is and how it affects the body.

For more information see this link:
Tuberculosis

Global Infectious Diseases

"Empowering the youths with the right information about HIV/AIDS can be extremely helpful in stopping the spread of this deadly disease ", former United states President Bill Clinton.

All of us must come together because we share the same belief that ignorance about AIDS/HIV is wrong, and that we must all do our share to end it. We have before us an Agenda for Action; let us "work togetherto provide the tools of opportunity so that every youth and child can look with confidence toward the future. That should be our promise to our children for the next century." Bill Clinton.

ENO Tree Planting

As part of the ENO program our school and GSS both planted trees on the same day. Here are some pictures.

What are the causes of malaria?

Hi Alexandar Dawson and Gaborone Senior Secondary School students,

It is exciting that we have this connection. Would you post here the casuses of malaria? TB and HIV/AIDS.


Hi Gaborone Senior Secondary School,

We are learning the infectious diseases this week in class. We will get back to you with our anwsers. We would love some information about these subjects from you.

Thanks,
Alexander Dawson

Dear Class of Gaborone,
We were very happy to see the pictures of all of you and the bears that we sent you. We are currently working on posting those pictures and some of our pictures on our blog. Also,we are wondering where the bears have been recently and what they have been doing! We are thinking about raising money to send mosquito nets over to Africa to try to prevent cases of Malaria in your part of the world. We were wondering if there was anything that you could possibly send over to us so that we can raise the money for your mosquito nets. Those might include jewelry, interesting beads, or fun crafts that have been made in Africa. We want thing that are unique to the African culture or to your school itself. Thank you very much!
Sincerly,
Anne, Sarah, Mari, and the rest of the Dawson Seventh Grade

No.1 Ladies Detective Agency

As a way to learn about Botswana the students at the Alexander Dawson School read the book "The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency". The students would like to ask students from Gabarone Secondary School some questions as a way to introduce themselves and to begin this project.

Dear Students in Botswana,
Hello. I am a seventh grade student at Alexander Dawson School. Recent, the students here read a book called the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and the book was set in Botswana. I am writing because the book said some things about life in Botswana that I wondered if they were true. One of the first thing mentioned in the book is the newspaper the Botswana Guardian. Is there really a paper named the Botswana Guardian? In Colorado, USA were I live there is a newspaper called the Daily Times Call, what are you local newspapers called? Also in the book two cities, Francistown and Orapa, were named. Are there cities by those names? Are they near were you live? Also in the book it talked about a well-known house in the country called Mokolodi. Have you ever heard if it? Thank you for reading my letter. I look forward to writing to you in the future.
Sincerely,
Mari

Dear Botswana Students,
Hello from the United States! I have recently read the No.1 Ladies Detective Ageny and I have a few questions for you. One question I have to ask is are there chickens that run around town? All of the chickens in our town are kept in pens. The second question is do you like hot tea on a hot day? I would prefer ided tea, but a character in this book likes hot tea.
I really appreciate you anwering my questions. Thank you!
Jaleh

Dear Rra Hamaluba and class at Gabarone Secondary School,
In the #1 ladies Detective Agency it says Mma Ramotswe's father Obed had a big herd of cattle that was worh a lot of money. Are they really that valuable? Here what makes a man wealthy is stocks or a job as the CEO of a company. In the book it also says that Obed was working in a mine and that hurt his lungs and he died. Do any of your parents or relatives work in the mines?
In our town of Boulder Colorado we greet each other by shaking hands and offering a place to sit and a drink. In the book Mma Ramotswe always offers "Red Bush tea" to drink. Do you drink this often? We like lemonade or soda.
Thanks,
Annie

Dear Mari

Hello Mari..I saw your question on the newspapers here,Well we do have the Botswana Guardian and others such as the Daily News which is funded by the Government and comes out daily.We also have The Voice which is most popular amongst the youth.Elderly people dont really like it as its full of celebrity news.There is a new one out that is specifically for soccer..We do have places Orapa and Francistown.Francistown is the 2nd city in Botswana ands Orapa is the 2nd largest producer of diamonds in the country...
Thanx for the questions......
Sincerely
Kutlo a.k.a Chanel

Dear Jaleh
Hey Jaleh,well there aren't chickens running around town really.You can find chickens on the loose in villages,Which you call Farms.Thats where our grand parents prefer to live.And these days by the way some people do actually put chickens in pens.About hot tea,Most Batswana do like it.Whether its a sunny day or not.

Thanx for the questions.
Kutlo a.k.a Chanel

Dear Annie
Hello Annie,You wouldnt believe how much Cattle is wortyh in Botswana.Wealth is cattle.Five roses tea is the most popular amongst elderly people.The youyh prefer coffee.we shake hands too..

Ciao

Kutlo a.k.a Chanel

Challenge 20/20