Feeling cold & singing songs

The weather has been distinctly unafrican this week. No sympathy expected, but it has been cold and wet. Today it even started hailing. All the children immediately ran outside the classrooms. So began 10 minutes of wild excitement. I found myself joining in.

I decided to focus on personal health issues in my life orientation classes this week. In most respects the children have little control over this. For example, having a varied diet is a luxury beyond most. They are forced to drink some very unclean water from the tap (though this is cholera free). They all have to exercise, as few have cars. None need worry too much about drugs – too expensive (even tobacco; the exception is marijuana which is grown locally).

The obvious area to target is infectious disease. Apart from having a very high HIV rate, South Africa has the highest TB infection rate in the world. Better still, KZN has the highest rate in SA. Hence there is a TB sponsored ward in Mosvold. In the spirit of increasing awareness, we came up with our own TB song. It must be sung to the tune of ‘Doo dah, doo dah’

‘The TB Song’

We must know about a thing called TB, TB,
We must know about a thing called TeeeB,
It can make you ill, it can even kill,
You must know about a thing called TeeeB.

There are many signs that you have TB, TB,
There are many clues that you have TeeeB,
Coughs with blood, pains in your chest,
You must see a doctor, to have a test.

There are other signs that you have TB, TB
There are more clues that you have TeeeB,
Feeling tired, losing lots of weight,
Go and see a doctor before it gets too late.

If you are always sweating think TB, TB
If you are always sweating think TeeeB,
And if you don’t want food, you never want to eat,
You need to see a doctor, you’ve got TB to beat.

The good news is that TB can be cured,
The good news is that TB can be cured,
6 months of drugs taken every day,
This will make sure, your TB goes away.

Some skill is required to make it fit the tune but we all had fun making and singing it. I think the HIV/Aids song might be more difficult. We will need some possible rhymes for e.g. abstinence, fidelity, unprotected sex and circumcision. I’ll let you know what we come up with.

Due to the poor weather, and the fact that Mary is on call, this weekend is likely to be uneventful.