Passports from the Heart

  • About
    • Bio
    • Press
      • Clips of My Work
    • Privacy
    • Where I’ve Been
  • Work With Us
    • Contact Me
    • Travel Bloggers Influencer Network (#TBIN)
  • Shop
  • Travel
    • Africa
    • Dominican Republic
    • England
    • Greece
    • Hidden Gems
    • Hotels
    • Impact Travel
    • Thursday Traveler
  • Philanthropy
    • Brands that Give Back
    • Disaster Relief
    • Inspiration
    • Shot@Life

The Road to Maululu

January 20, 2017 By Amelia Old Leave a Comment

Approximately 1-1/2 hours by car off the main road from downtown Livingstone, Africa is the Maululu Clinic. I was in the area with the United Nations Foundation and Shot@Life . Our goal was to see the work the community was doing to provide the locals with immunizations and other healthcare. I’ll be honest. The bumpy dirt pathway made me a bit car sick at times but I tried to focus on my surroundings and to prepare myself for what was to come. The rural areas we were driving through were most definitely a shock as it was certainly conditions I had not seen in person.

During the rainy season, this path isn’t accessible as it quickly overflows which makes it impossible to pass through even for 4 wheel drive vehicles. Our driver shared with us that underground springs and advanced irrigation allows locals to grow many vegetables. The men ride their bikes 2-3 hours in the mornings to deliver the vegetables to downtown Livingstone.

Clearly one of the biggest challenges this clinic holds is transportation. Requests for ambulances take at least 3 hours before they reach the clinic. That’s the minimum. The other challenge is electricity. They only have power for one room which is where the medical refrigerator that holds the vaccines is kept. If a woman goes into labor after dark, the nurses usually resort to holding their phones in their mouths for a source of light while delivering the baby.

The one existing solar panel and refrigerator was donated by the Japanese Government.

Despite accessibility  being such a challenge, this clinic serves over 1600 people. The intake building has three rooms. One which is the office, one to administer medications, and one to store medications. The clinic also has cement benches in the shade outside to help cool the women and their children off. The day I visited it was 105.8 F.

The head nurse, Annie, has been working at the clinic for 2 years. She is an encouragement to the young mothers who visit the clinic. When speaking to some of the women, she gave them gentle pushes to speak up for themselves when answering questions and to look us in the eye. She encouraged them to be confident. Many women in this area are taught to be seen and not heard. Annie believes they should have a voice too.

Nurse Annie

Something that I found fascinating at the Maululu clinic was that they had a mother’s shelter. This is where mothers stay and wait on the birth of their child reducing risk of delivering at home and facing problems without a nurse present. The mothers potentially can be there for several weeks.

Muntinta ,who was 9 months pregnant, and her mother Beatrice had been waiting at the mother’s shelter for at least one week when we met. It’s a three hour walk from her home so she was patiently waiting at the clinic to give birth. Her mother was very excited at the arrival of her first grandchild.

Beatrice and her daughter Muntinta 

Muntinta shared with us that she will make sure her child receives all immunizations as she wants to protect the baby from disease. Her biggest hope for her unborn child is that he/she will be healthy and go to school.

Twenty-three year old Jelina has two children Maria (3 years) and Feelnes (11 months). Both children have had all immunizations. Her hopes for her children are that they will become educated and maybe become nurses.

Prisca has seven children ages fifteen, eleven, ten, nine, seven, six, and seven months. She shared with us that she only became educated about family planning after the first four children were born. Many friends in her community also have seven children. Her dreams for her children are that they become educated as she sees it as a real opportunity for success. Her children have also received immunizations. She said, “when your children are immunized they are healthy and free from disease.”

While the women had their children checked out by Nurse Annie, the men had gathered for their village meeting. I snapped a photo from our car as we were leaving.

I left feeling inspired. Despite major challenges and lack of resources, people like Nurse Annie don’t focus on the negative. They focus on how they can change and save lives.

The United Nations Foundation and Shot@Life team outside the Maululu clinic.

 

 

 

 

*I visited Zambia, Africa as part of the United Nations Foundation Blogger Fellowship*

Filed Under: Africa, Shot@Life Tagged With: Africa, immunizations, Impact Travel, livingstone, Maululu Clinic, philanthropy, shot@life, Social Good, United Nations Foundation, vaccines, Zambia

Giving children a Shot@Life in Simonga, Zambia

December 20, 2016 By Amelia Old 2 Comments

*I visited Zambia, Africa through a United Nations Foundation fellowship.*

The Simonga Clinic outside of Livingstone, Zambia serves over 5,000 people within four zones. Made of cement, the clinic with three to four rooms has basic electricity and no real equipment. They do however have a vaccine fridge. While they provide wellness checkups and even deliver babies, immunizations are very important here.

During my trip there a couple of months ago, I was reminded how easy we have it here in the states. When it’s time for my children’s yearly checkup, I call and make an appointment, they get their shots, and that’s it. I am able to drive there. I don’t have to worry about a power outage ruining vaccines, preventing my child from receiving what’s necessary. Nor do I have to fight wild animals just to get to a clinic.

It’s not that easy in Zambia. Women prefer to come in groups as it’s usually a long walk and most men aren’t involved in the care of their children. This is typically the responsibility of the mother. Each day is grouped by check-ups and immunizations. I was amazed to hear some of the stories for the mothers here. Each day they go through great lengths to get their children the care they need.

The head nurse Mamakau ,seen above, has been working at the Simonga Clinic for four years but as a nurse for twenty. She’s a former member of the Red Cross and has always had a great love for helping people.She has two workers at the clinic but the clinic really would have trouble surviving without the help of community volunteers.

I had the opportunity, along with Martha Rebour (Director of Shot@Life),  to interview two of the incredible moms that benefit from the services at the Simonga Clinic.

Helen with her 8 month old daughter,  Bertina 

Helen is 25 years old and has two girls named Lucky and Albertina. Living 18km away Helen must come early in the morning to avoid the elephants which aside from transportation is one of the biggest challenges in Zambia. Helen brought both of her girls to the Simonga Clinic for their immunizations. She told us “it is an important way for me to protect my children.”

She sees illness often within her village and recently witnessed two young children covered in chicken pox. She encouraged their mother to bring them to the clinic for treatment but due to distance it’s quite difficult for the children to travel while sick.

Lucky, age 3

 

Albertina, age 8 months 

Like most mothers Helen has dreams for Lucky and Albertina.  She says “I would like for Lucky to become a teacher and Albertina to become a nurse or even doctor!” 

 

Petronella with her 3 year old daughter Victoria 

Petronella is 35 years old with four children between the ages of three and fourteen. Thankfully she lives close to the clinic, so when one of her children suffered from asthma and chest problems she was able to get him treatment quickly. All of her children have been immunized. Petronella has dreams for her children too which include medicine, law, and education.

Victoria, age 3

These mothers understand the importance of immunizations for diseases and how they can save the lives of their children. For example, according to the World Health Organization from 2000 to 2015, measles vaccinations have prevented an estimated 20.3 million deaths. That’s an incredible amount!

This Holiday Season, I encourage you to consider donating to Shot@Life. YOU can help protect children like Victoria, Lucky, and Albertina.

 

Click here to make a donation today.

Filed Under: Africa, Shot@Life Tagged With: Africa, immunizations, Impact Travel, shot@life, Simonga Clinic, United Nations Foundation, Zambia

My Journey to Africa with Shot@Life

October 19, 2016 By Amelia Old Leave a Comment

One year ago I was at a conference and I shared with some individuals my plan for Pretty in the Queen City. I was no longer interested in writing about beauty and fashion as I had done for so many years. My real passion was with travel and philanthropy. Some told me I was insane to do this. Would I make the same amount of money writing about ‘giving back’ as I did about the latest products on the market? Probably not. But, that was irrelevant to me. I wanted to write about what I love. That’s what this is all about.

10400184_10156758885125601_2575159402421669652_nShot@Life Champions: Me, Nicole Morgan, Matthew Pope, Ari Adams

During that same conference I was introduced to a lovely blogger named Nicole Morgan. She is a powerhouse in the ‘social good’ circle and she quickly took me under her wing. Months later I was in Washington D.C. participating in my first Shot@Life Summit-an organization I have grown to love and work alongside throughout the year. Shot@Life , a Campaign of the United Nations Foundation, aims to ensure that children around the world have access to life saving vaccines.

12790932_10156694813890601_3416157176474023916_n-1

941037_10156758885055601_8902268223662585263_nSouth Carolina Shot@Life Champions

A few weeks ago I found out that I had been accepted to visit Africa with Shot@Life and the United Nations Foundation. This wasn’t just any trip. This was my dream trip. Africa has long been at the top of my travel bucket list paired with having the opportunity to grasp the culture and the issues that are faced within this area of the world.

I’ve been home only less than a week from this whirlwind of a trip. We spent a week traveling to different areas of Zambia. We met with various UN agencies, partner organizations, and conducted site visits to health clinics, hospitals, and local communities. This allowed us to become more educated in the need for support for global health interventions.

14708038_10101404569578127_6217097682876443420_oShot@Life Bloggers with UNICEF Zambia

This is my 3rd international trip in 4 months. It just shows that when you take that leap of faith for what you know you are called to do then you will be given opportunities. If you had of asked me last year would I be here now then I would have most likely laughed. Maybe I didn’t even believe in myself at that point in time.

However, now, there is nothing that could be more clear to me. I am right where I am meant to be.

I am honored by this opportunity. The trip was unlike any other and I’m still processing not only the information I learned but the emotions from the week. I hope you follow along as I share stories of not only those who provide life-saving work but stories of those who have been impacted by the work of Shot@Life and it’s partners.

img_4969Our Team Outside a Clinic in Zambia

Filed Under: Africa, Shot@Life Tagged With: charity, Get a Shot Give a Shot, give back, immunizations, philanthropy, shot at life, shot@life, Social Good, travel, United Nations Foundation, vaccines, Zambia

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2

I’m a Member!

Lonely Planet Pathfinders badge image
International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association    

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Sign up to receive email updates daily and to hear what's going on with us!

Looking for Something?

Shop Now

Follow us

  • 1,044 Fans
  • 53,513 Followers
  • 111 Subscribers
  • 18,290 Followers

The Latest

Romantic Mountain Getaway with Carolina Mornings

Romantic Mountain Getaway with Carolina Mornings

April 17, 2018 By Amelia Old Leave a Comment

My husband and I just celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary and I wanted to arrange something very special for him. He's such a hard worker, travels the world quite often, and needed nothing more than a few days to relax. We only live two and a half hours from Asheville, so that was the perfect choice for a … [Read More...]

Travel

Romantic Mountain Getaway with Carolina Mornings

Romantic Mountain Getaway with Carolina Mornings

April 17, 2018 By Amelia Old Leave a Comment

My husband and I just celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary and I wanted to arrange something very special for him. He's such a hard worker, … [Read More...]

My Journey to Mt Everest Base Camp (6 Months to Go!)

My Journey to Mt Everest Base Camp (6 Months to Go!)

April 16, 2018 By Amelia Old 2 Comments

It has been a year since I announced my insane idea of hiking to Mt. Everest Base Camp. It has been a year but it has all happened so fast. I … [Read More...]

Philanthropy

How One Life Insurance Company Eases Food Desert Needs

How One Life Insurance Company Eases Food Desert Needs

March 14, 2018 By Amelia Old Leave a Comment

Only fifteen minutes outside of Asheville, a city known for its abundance of culinary delights, one Western North Carolina town is deep in a food desert. As with many swaths of Buncombe County, Swannanoa is in a … [Read More...]

International Women’s Day:Invest in Women with Kiva

International Women’s Day:Invest in Women with Kiva

March 8, 2018 By Amelia Old Leave a Comment

Today, March 8th, marks International Women's Day! A global day that celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It's also a call to action for accelerating gender parity! What a … [Read More...]

Copyright, Passports from the Heart © 2018. All Rights Reserved. · Log in