Today we are in the mountainous area known as the Overberg, in the town of Worcester, where one of the main sites of SATVI (South African TB Vaccine Initiative) is located. SATVI is engaged in clinical trials and testing of over 6,000 people here, which has one of the highest TB rates in the world. One of the cornerstones of the program is the training of local community members to perform the testing and followup of the adults and kids, rather than by doctors and lab technicians. These local workers are called surveillance officers.
Becca and Gamal have chosen to create a theater workshop for these local surveillance officers as part of the Yale summer session course on theater and public health. The local workers and Yale students gather in a space at the hospital to create a space for imaginative expression of the trauma and stress the local workers experience in the course of their work on TB. One of my favorite exercises has been when the local workers pair off and have to try to top each other's experience of TB while singing in an operatic singing voice.
In other news, Z Charles has decided to withhold all poop for 2 days. This has led to some excruciating screaming in the car, the internet cafe, at dinner. Negotiations for the release of the poop continues. Will keep you all posted. BSM
No comments:
Post a Comment