FHI - Laura Bush Expresses Admiration for FHI-supported Project in Senegal

JULY 2007 — "One essential thing in the treatment of AIDS is good nutrition," said First Lady Laura Bush after her tour of the ambulatory treatment center at the Fann Hospital in Dakar June 26. She added that its vegetable gardens were "a great role model for other hospitals [and] communities."

On her tour, she saw that the center's gardens not only supply nutritious, vitamin-rich produce that helps people living with HIV or AIDS improve health and achieve better results from their antiretroviral treatments, but the gardens reduce hospital costs and provide income-generating opportunities for patients who participate in daily activities. In addition, gardening and being in this tranquil, green oasis offer opportunities for collaboration and socializing that foster camaraderie and build community.

FHI is one of USAID's implementing partners in providing support for these gardens, along with other aspects of comprehensive care services being introduced at the ambulatory treatment center. Since 2002, FHI has been working to integrate nutritional care into its medical treatment by developing training modules for ambulatory and nutritional care and supporting psychosocial activities, such as communal meals, focus groups, and visits to in-patients. FHI is also working with USAID to replicate the gardens and the approach in another ambulatory treatment center in southern Senegal.

CTA garden

The garden grows
The idea that led to the first outpatient garden in Senegal originated with Professor Papa Salif Sow, head of the Fann Teaching Hospital's Infectious Diseases Unit. It bore fruit after contacts were made with volunteer Steve Bolinger of the US Peace Corps and Senegal's agriculture ministry. Bolinger continued with the project at the end of his tour. With another volunteer, Sara Koch, he founded an NGO they called Development in Gardening (DIG) that won FHI/Senegal's support in 2006 within a subagreement between FHI and the ambulatory treatment center.

Photos and statements from beneficiaries were assembled as a presentation for Laura Bush's visit. FHI/Senegal Country Director Barbara Sow gave a speech that outlined the US Government's support of these activities through FHI, along with "the great partnerships we forge to make comprehensive care a reality in Senegal, in line with both the PEPFAR vision and the policy of Senegal's Ministry of Health." Those assembled also received a handout (PDF, 222 KB) that listed how each vegetable, herb and plant in the garden builds up the immune system and helps restore the health of people living with HIV or AIDS.

Bolinger led the tour of the garden for the First Lady and her daughter, Jenna Bush, both of whom harvested some vegetables for use in the treatment center's kitchen—their next stop. About 30 patients at a time cook and eat together. On that day, their midday meal was a savory national dish of fish and rice called thiebou dien, along with spices, green tomatoes, carrots and sweet potatoes grown in the garden.

Integrating malaria prevention
At the next stop within the facility, Laura Bush received a briefing from the coordinator of Senegal's malaria-control program and presented patients with 500 insecticide-treated bednets provided through the President's Malaria Initiative.

This gesture was particularly appreciated by FHI staff present, as they are strong proponents of integrating malaria prevention activities into HIV/AIDS programs as a way of furthering government objectives and helping reach USAID's malaria targets. (See related article on FHI partnership to reduce HIV/AIDS and malaria among cocoa farmers in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana.)

PHOTOS: (Top) First Lady Laura Bush speaks with FHI/Senegal Country Director Barbara Sow. (Above) Produce harvested in the garden at Fann Hospital's ambulatory care treatment center helps patients improve their health and adhere to treatment. (FHI/Senegal)