RSA-Overseas - The Expat Portal: Weekly Magazine

Washington D.C. Wrapped in a colourful African cloth and strapped onto her mother's back, the "tree baby," Baby Rosita, left the United States after their two week visit.

Her mother Cecilia Chirindza and their visibly exhausted interpreter, Isabel Francisco, arrived at Dulles Airport with seven enormous suitcases filled with presents from their warm hearted US supporters.

"Before I was suffering, now I have had the chance to come here," Chirindza said. "I was given things, but most of all I was given warmth."

Chirindza, who comes from a rural village in Mozambique, liked the States "with all the beautiful things and kind people", although she said she was not sad to leave.

She had missed her family back home in Maputo, where they presently live in an accommodation center to which they were relocated after the floods destroyed the Chibuto village where they had lived.

After Chirindza gave birth to Baby Rosita in a tree in order to escape the rising floodwaters, mother and her daughter have become international celebrities.

Their hectic schedule was jam-packed up until the very last minute with several official events where the mother and her baby were honoured.

The four month old baby, the new face of Africa, literally charmed her American audiences. She never cried, but laughed at the cameras and spoke to everyone in her baby language.

The education of the agreeable, good -natured baby girl and the similar fate of other African children have become the moral duty of many U.S. donors. A fund has been established not only to provide for Rosita, but also for the education and assistance to other children who were flood victims.

Her mother Chirindza, an uneducated, illiterate young woman has attracted the attention to the struggle of many African women. The only manner in which Chirindza could communicate and express her delight, was with the "thumbs-up and smile" gesture which she learned during her trip.

Whenever Cecilia recognized her regular companions, mostly journalists and diplomats, her face would light up in a bright smile and she'd quickly show the thumbs-up, a gesture which touched many hearts.

Their first week in Washington D.C. included a reception to Congress on Capitol Hill, several interviews and press conferences. They also received an extensive medical examination free of charge from the Howard University Hospital. Both mother and daughter were found to be very healthy.

Then they were whisked off for a weekend visit to Detroit, were they attended several church services.

Fransisco said that the Detroit visit was a good introduction to the African American culture, and the warm reception made a lasting impression on them both.

During their second week in America, Chirinda encountered the shopping mall phenomenon.

A very relaxed, excited young women chose several outfits, taking the climate and conditions of Mozambique into account. She preferred short, knee-length skirts in oranges and brown. A long blue and yellow sleeveless dress, left her beaming.

Clothes and accessories were bought, not only for mother and daughter, but also for the family back home. Her two small children will soon discover the innovative toys and typical American games such as basketball. Although they had to pay 128 US dollars on excess baggage, which probably amounts to more than the total price of the toys, these toys are not available in Mozambique. American children have access to very sophisticated toys and their prices are inexpensive.

Their last weekend was spent in Atlanta, were they were officially invited to a dinner with a senator. They attended three church services before they were rushed to the airport to fly back to the capital city. The 23-year old Chirindza and her baby stayed in the up market Gregory Hotel in Washington D.C., an experience of comfort and luxury.

Francisco said initially Chirindza felt very uncomfortable in her new surroundings, but it soon turned into an adventure.

Her first press conference was an introduction to the joys of make-up and nail polish. Towards the end of their week, the attractive Mama Rosita experimented with various glitter colours on every finger nail, just like any young man who have just discovered the possibilities of beauty. However, while in the departure line at the airport, she was observed scraping off the last of the nail polish, perhaps so that her husband would not be upset on her arrival home.

The pressure and fatigue of the past two weeks, have finally taken its toll, Francisco said.

She accompanied the native Changane speaker to the United States, but instead of just being interpreter, Fransisco became the unofficial tour manager and watchdog.

Worried about the implications of the mothers' introduction to western culture, Fransisco made sure that clothing and other items purchased, were appropriate.

She was also concerned about the make-up and all the gifts, and the implications for Chirindza's marriage.

"Her husband might think that she's changed, or that she has become rich" Francisco said. She encouraged Chirindza to educate herself, although she emphasized the importance of education for both the husband and his wife in order to avoid conflict.

"Somebody's disaster, is others' opportunity," said the Ambassador of Mozambique to the Unted States, H.E. Marcos G. Namashulua at a reception hosted by the Upsilon Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha Kapp Alpha Sorority organization.

The organization presented the mother and baby with several gifts. Upsilon Tau Omega is actively involved in the education and upliftment of children in Africa. They have also collected several gifts, mostly clothing, to be shipped to babies in Mozambique.

The organization has financed and dedicated an IVY academy in Durban. The Ambassador said that Baby Rosita and her mother have attracted created an awareness the pressing need for financial assistance. The provision of an infrastructure and the need for the rehabilitation of their people after the floods, are the priorities of the Mozambique community, he said. He invited businesses to invest in the country.

The hosts of the Rosita-family visit, brothers Gilbert and Bill Davidson from Mozambique International, is currently involved in setting up business development initiatives in the country.

Baby Rosita and her mother's programme included a reception by the Ambassador to Britain on arrival in London, and a press conference was organised between their connecting flights. They were scheduled to fly into Johannesburg on Virgin Atlantic Airlines before connecting to Maputo.

© RSA-Overseas & Matheson Communications

Katie Koekblik Column
Ilda Jacobs

Washington D.C. - As die muis dik is, is die koring bitter.. Hierdie week bevind ek myself in die kloue van die blues hier in die land van kitskos en vinnige ondergrondse treine genaamd metros.

Ek mis die Berg. Ek mis die Oppikoppi musiekfees. Ek mis my studente-lewe, ek droom selfs van hoërskool.

My nuwe werk as joernalis is veeleisend, alles rondom my beweeg teen 'n pas, heelwat vinniger as die "Afrika-tyd waaraan ek gewoond is.

Die eerste adrenalien vlae het ook bedaar, alles is nie meer so nuut en nie en ek voel ook nie meer asof ek in 'n rolprent is nie.

Ek is al gewoond aan die boustyl van die Amerikaanse speelgoedhuisies rondom my, en ek dink as ek terug gaan na Suid-Afrika sal ek aan die verkeerde kant van die stuurwiel inklim.

Selfs die ongelooflike groen bome in Washington D.C., begin al hoe meer dieselfde vorm aanneem as die lanings in Constantia waarby jy sou ry, sonder om dit werklik raak te sien.

Ewe skielik besef ek, waar ek ookal bly gaan alles die een of ander tyd normaal lyk en voel, en vreeslike "daily en mundane" besluite druk swaar op my gemoed.

Op die oomblik moet ek besluit oor blyplek vir die volgende jaar. My keuse is tussen my eie badkamer en 'n enkel kamer in 'n woonhuis by 'n norse vrou wat glo nie elke dag bad nie, maar die voordeel is dat ek na my werk kan stap. Ek is ook omring deur verskeie Indiese, Thai en Italiaanse eetplekkies, en ek voel asof ek in die hart van die Noordelike voorstede van Washington bly.

Die ander opsie is hierdie obskure dakkamer ("attic") saam met die coolste twee surfers en 'n tuinier. Die dak is op sommige plekke 'n bietjie te laag om regop te staan, en 'n stel klein spiraal trappies en 'n tou moet op- en afgeklim word om in my kamer te kom. Ten minste sal ek 'n sosiale lewe kan hê in 'n huis saam met jong mense.

Dit is natuurlik die rede hoekom hierdie Eva hierdie naweek deur die Groot Appel getempteer wil word. Ek hol weg van Belangrike Besluite.

Ek vermy die realiteit wat my nou vinnig terug bring na hierdie Amerikaanse kontinent toe.

Ek soek nou 'n nuwe golf van opwinding, ek ervaar nie meer daardie koue rillings as ek verby die Wit Huis ry nie.

Selfs daardie magtige gevoel dat 'n swaar geskiedenis en al die mag van die wêreld die Capitol City omring, het al verdwyn. Washington D.C. kon net sowel Grahamstad of Meyerton of Hermanus gewees het.

Daarom is dit "New York, New York" hierdie naweek, en hopelik gaan ek net nog 'n tipiese blinkoog toeris uit SA wees by die Statue of Liberty. Ek wil ontsnap van die Afrikaanse meisie wat haarself alreeds in 'n doodgewone voorstedelike leefstyl in Washington D.C. bevind.

Ek skryf natuurlik met vreeslike selfvertroue oor hoe ek Amerika alreeds bemeester het en dit is nie die volle waarheid nie. Nou die dag kla ek oor die simpele Amerikaanse posseëls wat nie wil plak as jy hulle natlek nie. Kiepie het nie besef selfs posseëls is so ontwikkel hier in die Verenigde State, dat hulle plakkers is nie. Wat 'n blinde ontdekking.

Kytie K.

Kytie Koekblik would like you to respond to her tongue-in-cheek running commentary on suburban life in America in this editorial. Fresh off the boat, she is ready to explore and experiment with American bath plugs and to drive on the other side of the road.

You can contact her here.

© RSA-Overseas & Matheson Communications

SA Scientist to Siberia
Ilda Jacobs

Washington D.C - It sounds like a science fiction movie, but it is for real. A microbiologist from South Africa is sending "bugs" from Siberian geysers into space.

Prof. Robb

Frank T. Robb, a former lecturer in the microbiology department at the University of Cape Town, is the co-leader of a multi-national team of microbiologists who is in Siberia for a weeklong conference on the sampling of "extremophiles."

Robb is currently based at the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI) on the east coast of the United States.

The team is exploring volcanoes, geysers and sulphur pits in search of extremophile microbes of both ancient origins and high-dollar potential in biotechnology.

Although it sounds like a dinosaur-hunt, the much sought after "bugs" are essential to the formulation of a DNA theory on the gene-sequence of resistant microbes.

The team is sampling the fire-and-icy terrain of the Kamchatka-peninsula for heat- and radiation-resistant microbes, otherwise known as extremophiles.

Extremophiles are bugs which can survive in extreme conditions, which vary from extreme cold to extreme heat. Robbs' team is investigating the theory that bugs which can resist high heat, near boiling point, can also resist radiation.

The one-celled, Spartan life forms that brave-boiling water, high radiation soils and heavy metals survive on odd, sometimes barebones DNA systems.

Such molecular survival strategies could urge the researchers to spawn new theories of the evolution on Earth and on other planets. "If the radiation breaks the DNA, and these bugs can recover by fixing their DNA gene function, it will break our DNA theory that these heat resistant bugs can also resist radiation" Robb said.

If extremophiles have been heat damaged, their repair gene-function which they posses, seem to adapt to extreme conditions. These may well withstand radiation.

The most tolerant bugs, may join the ongoing NASA / UMBI experiments to expose the microbes to naked sun radiation abroad a space shuttle. The bugs will also be exposed to a vacuum of high space. If the bugs can survive, they can be transmitted from planet to planet, a form of life that is indestructible within the harshest conditions imaginable.

Robbs, a cutting edge world leader in micro-biology, says it is their third time in Kamchatka, and they are running a mini-conference on sampling activities in hot volcanic areas.

Kamchatka is a 182, 000-square mile section of the Pacific ring of fire. Along a 500-mile volcanic ridge, steamy natural "pots" heave mineral-rich deposits from the Earth. There are 24 springs in Kamtchatka, and also fields with a high uranium occurrence.

The explorers will also look for microbes that live in and "eat" heavy metals in the soil. The goal is to recruit such organisms for bio-remediation. "Bio-remediation" refers to the clean up of toxic pollution in soils. Microbes that produce oxygen and grow exclusively on carbon monoxide are also explored.

The unusual genetics of extremophiles could be useful in the formulation of new biotech tools of medicine, agriculture and other industries. Robbs have recently explored South Africa for extremophiles. He sampled bugs in a town of microscopic proportions, Warmwatersburg, in the Klein Karoo. The town consists of one building and a campsite.

He has also sampled and grown cultures, "similar to yoghurt" from the Caledon Spa. These samples are found in mud and water associated with hot springs.

In the near future he will travel to Goudini Spa near Worcester for further sampling. Robbs have traveled to New Zealand, Iceland and to several areas in the United States in search of the extremophiles. He lectured at UCT for seven years before he joined Dr. Rita Colwell at the University of Maryland.

Colwell has recently unveiled the DNA blueprint of the cholera bacterium. In 1983, on invitation to a conference at UCT, Robbs' wife sampled cholera bacterium with Colwell at the Langebaan Lagoon on the Cape West-Coast.

Robbs' said Colwelll use to incubate cholera bacterium on the television, leaving the television on all night to generate heat. The cholerae bacterium is also a type of extremophile with a DNA gene repair function and would space not be a great place to deport the King Cholera bugs to!

South African Dennis Mader is also part of the team on a quest for extremophiles in Siberia. The 2000 exploration will hire helicopters to go to sites in the Wilderness that are too remote for tourists, and a National Geographic team is covering the event. They scientists will scoop up samples for preliminary analysis in their makeshift laboratory, and eventually millions of microbes will be taken back to the US for research purposes.

"Sometimes, the bug-hunt will be dangerous, especially near hot, acidic pools," Robb said. Acids eat away rock crust around the pool, and the surface crusts become hazardous when too thin for walking.

So far, the relatively young science of extremophiles have delivered microbes which are used in the manufacturing of beer, medicines, paper products, plastics, paint and myriad application in medical biotechnology, related to AIDS- and hepatitis diagnosis.

© RSA-Overseas & Matheson Communications

Deviant SA Youths to NYC
Ilda Jacobs

Washington D.C. - A South African youth group from Soweto, has attended a training programme in New York City, the most happening city in the world. The programme is geared towards community service.

Their educational visit to NYC has sparked off a whole movement towards the empowerment of South African youth. Even a brief encounter with the US First Lady, Hilary Clinton, was on their agenda. In the streetsmart city that is New York, Youthline, a helpline affiliated with the Department of Youth and Community Development of New York, has developed a programme to train youngsters to direct their peers to agencies and council homes when they are in need.

The visit was funded by the South African government and the Ithutheng Trust. The South African youths have been empowered to address the problems of drug- and sexual abuse, and social disorder. The children have been equipped with hands-on experience to address prominent community issues, as well as personel issues such as self-awareness. Crisis intervention, alcohol- and violence related problems, teen parenthood, STD's, rape, suicide and mediation were also heavyweight topics on their agenda.

Many of these teenagers are the former shadows of the rainbow nation, previously involved in crime and related activities in the gangstas paradise. Their school teachers referred to them as "deviant youths". But the silent victims of the apartheid legacy, are now actively involved in the upliftment of their own communities. The children have overcome of the trauma of the apartheid legacy: the loss of their parents to political violence, the hardship of poverty and the ravages of crime.

Reverend Dr. Matthew Adams, who honoured the children at a South African Youth Sunday Celebration in Manhattan, said that the children impressed him with their "eclectic combination of youth, maturity and intelligence. "I've fallen in love with these children," Adams said. "They are extremely intelligent, well-versed and articulate. The communicate and interact very well, despite the pain, poverty and crime which they have endured." Adams will be visiting South Africa in the near future to collaborate and participate in further exhange programmes.

Director of the Ithutheng Trust in South Africa, Ms Jacky Maarohanye, heads the group of twenty three youths who have trained to provide a support service to their communities. The visit is seen as historical for it brings to New York a group of youth, the majority of whom have never before ventured beyond their hometown or Johannesburg.

Aged between 15-20, these children have disposed of their guns and weapons and denounced crime publicly. With the support of the government, the youths have made tremendous strides towards completing their secondary studies.

The Ithutheng trust is currently setting up a community center in Soweto which will open in September. The children visited various sites, such as community and health care centres, an aids center and a center for foster care.

Adams Jr. also hosted a special South African Youth Sunday to honour the children at the Grace United Methodist Church in Manhatten on Sunday the 23d of July. New York youth and the South African group participated in a two hour celebration which included songs of praise, recital from the scriptures and renditions of poetry. The Consul-General of South Africa to New York, Ms Thami Ngwevela, as well as Kate Zuma, the wife of Deputy President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma attended the occasion.

New York youths encountered traditional, cultural African song and dance. "It was a beautiful symmetry of God's love" Adams said. "We have really adopted these kids." Afterwards an offering for the children was raised to provide them with musical instruments.

Adams says the visit has been a wonderful experience of mutual learning for both the South African and the New York inner city youths. "As African -Americans we are connected inexplicably to our brothers and sisters in South Africa, they are our people." He said.

The children have also gone to a theatre performance and a theme park, made possible by the New York City Government. A concert by Miriam Makeba in Central Park, was a highlight of their visit. At a proclamation at the City Hall, the children was also honoured.

The rising awareness of organizations and youth in New York, as well as the institution of a South African Youth Sunday in some churches, will hopefully result on further youth exchange programmes.

The Ithutheng Trust, a non-profit organization, originally approached different schools in Soweto with the request to work with deviant children. The project started last year, and already 2 500 youth have been enrolled in their programme.

Forty young South Africans have already received scholarships earlier this year from South African businesses towards their university and college education. The event was officiated by President Thabo Mbeki. Mbeki place a high priority on education and his government has allocated almost 23% of their national budget to education

© RSA-Overseas & Matheson Communications

An Editorial: Claustrophobia Spurs Nostalgia
Cliff Matheson - JULUKA Newsletter

During a crisis, some turn to religion, others to family. Me, I turn to my homeland.

In December, I was on a flight to California from Washington when I suffered a bout of claustrophobia. The flight attendant announced the start of the in-flight movie and, like clockwork, each person occupying a window seat slammed their blinds shut, causing the cabin to become quite dark. A switch must have been toggled by remote control in my brain and I instantly began suffering a rare bout of claustrophobia. There didn't seem to be enough air to breathe or space to exist in.

Vivid thoughts flashed through my mind and I wondered how I would make it to L.A. I clambered over the lap of the old lady next to me and bolted for the bathroom. A smaller space, but cool water all over my face and shirt helped. I tried to remain calm. Thoughts continued to flash through my head - would I ever see South Africa again? How could I possibly stand it through a 21-hour flight? Under general anesthetic perhaps? Or perhaps I would have to go on a 'mail ship' but all mail goes by air these days. Oh, a freighter then, directly across the Atlantic, stopping in Ghana, then hugging the coast all the way to Cape Town. That's three to four weeks each way, with me sleeping on the deck.

In my claustrophobic condition, how could I possibly go below? I need more than windows. I need atmosphere around my face and above my head - a universe would do, not a cabin ceiling or porthole to define my confinement.

On the deck it shall be then. But what if it gets cold? No matter - I will handle that. I need to know I will see Cape Town again: The mountain that I rarely climbed, the sea in which I rarely swam, the poverty of the Cape Flats that I was fortunate enough not to have to trudge through each day. The continuous winter rain. The street children (the little Coloured boy at Sandvlei shouting to his sister, "Fielie, kyk daai antie's se koejavel!") or while night fishing on Kalk Bay's harbor wall seeing the emergence on deck of a fisherman after a bit of below deck sport: "Haai, maar daai meid naai am kak, ne?!" Or the sight of Norman, our old gardener and friend complaining that the rich kids in Bishopscourt spoiled the local dagga prices causing him to risk the "flats" for an affordable "parcel".

I need to reward myself again for climbing to the top of Lion's Head on a warm summers night under full moon, with a bottle of Old Brown Sherry or Tassies. I need to watch my barber, Mr. Tyler, point out the Pickpockets in action from his 2nd floor window above the busy Claremont sidewalk. I want to be asked if I bought my licence at Pick 'n Pay after the SAP pull me over for reading the paper while driving at 80 mph down the Blue Route. I need to watch my classmate and surfing champion, Pierre Norgarb, spitting at the mossies that try to grab the stale bread he lures them with to his window seat near the back of Afrikaans class. Just once more, I want to trade a Checkers bag of hunted turtle doves for a sick note from Kat, our nanny.

I dream of dodging rocks thrown from the pedestrian overpasses on the Eastern Blvd during 1976. Or getting a call from my best friend Adrian with an invite to go "farming" - he fancied a pair of sisters with the Surname Farmer. (Adrian died tragically in a car crash in Seattle 14 years ago).

Being ambushed while necking at Rhodes Memorial late at night and ordered by a big policeman for my date and I to show our four hands to ensure they were all white.

Gathering horse manure left behind by the "empty bottle" cart and selling it to my dad for his dahlias at a penny a scoop.

Watching our neighbor, Mr. Obaniak, the manager of the Grand Hotel, chasing a little house thief down Orchard Street with a samurai sword - my dad and neighbor in hot pursuit with their gas pistol and walking stick respectively.

Seeing off my best friend Hansie at Cape Town harbor for his family's voyage back to Germany, shortly after the Sharpville massacre.

Being surprised by the appearance of my mother at school, there to take us home at the news of the assassination of Dr. Verwoerd.

Being a confused 14 year old at the sight of our neighbor's daughter being treated at home for head wounds received from police batons on the steps of St George's Cathedral.

Witnessing our Xhosa gardener flee like a frightened animal over the back fence at the first sight of the Bantu Administration Board van entering our road.

Being disappointed and disillusioned when the pigeon egg my uncle Boet gave us (each time) didn't hatch despite all the care I gave it for the 21 days following our annual visits to Vredenburg.

Watching the 'dirt bin boys' gather in our yard to receive the hospitality of nanny dishing out coffee and sandwiches (my mother was aware of the loss of 5 lbs. of sugar and a large tin of Ricoffee each week).

Eagerly accepting a 4 am invitation to go tuna fishing off Cape Point when my track record the previous dozen occasions had me so sea sick that I was praying for death to end my misery.

Nervously trying to convince the Liesbeeck River trout inspector that we had left our licenses at home when being discovered with a bucket full of rainbows.

Watching my dad get a kick out of every Fairmont or Barracuda owner signaling the need for a 'dice' from where we were stopped at a traffic light on our one-of-a-kind 1967 Ford Mercury Cougar (my dad would pull away like an old lady, much to the disappointment of the challenger).

Experiencing the wrath of our neighbor who entered our house when our parents were away in America to bang our heads together because we threw rocks on his roof during a barney with his kids.

Peering at my soccer ball through the fence of the old hermit across the street whose pathway greeted intruders with this sign: 'Man traps and electric wires - keep out!'

Hearing my mother's car enter our driveway moments after shooting my first turtle dove at point blank range through my bedroom window and crying my eyes out once I had realized what I had done

Teaching a Quaker-sponsored adult education class on car mechanics by candlelight at Crossroads Squatter Camp while hundreds of eager people denied admission hogged the windows of the outside of the shack to get a peek at what we were doing.

How could I ever forget the place? I am defined by it. That's me - a product of these claustrophibic ramblings, recalling my raw and lively place past. And that's where I will return - if not physically, then at least spiritually, time and time again during the course of my life.

Long live the people (and my memories) of Cape Town.

Features & Briefs

HYENAS KILL BALTIMORE BOY
Budding naturalist, Mark Garrity Shea (11) of Baltimore, was killed by a pack of hyenas while on his second safari with his mom in Botswana this month.

According to his hometown newspaper, Mark, a lean, freckle-faced boy with a keen interest in the natural world loved animals and was the proud owner of three birds, three dogs, several lizards and a pair of Australian emus.

Mark, known as 'Garrit' to his classmates, had just graduated from Fort Garrison Elementary School in Baltimore Country and was due to start middle school in the fall.

According to the U.S. State Department, Mark was attacked inside his tent but few additional details of the attack are known.

Andre du Toit, co-owner of the popular South African supply store in Atlanta, Cape Food & Beverage, and an experienced hunter in Southern Africa, told our reporter: "Its almost unheard of that animals would attack humans inside of their tents."

Du Toit then speculated: "Hyenas often get close purely out of curiosity, but the current drought in the area could have stressed the hyenas and been a contributing factor to this attack."

At the time of writing, it was not clear if the incident would have a dampening effect on wildlife tourism.

SA REPORTER IN DC
Matheson Communications announced the arrival of Ilda Jacobs to their team. Matheson Communications, U.S. Representatives for Africa Eye News Service, recruited Ilda as part of their continuing commitment to provide opportunity for young journalists in South Africa to gain valuable experience abroad.
Ilda graduated from Rhodes University, Grahamstown, in November 1999 with an honors degree in Arts Journalism, Drama and Afrikaans-Dutch.
We want our readers to be the eyes and ears for Ilda as she fulfills their commitment to provide news coverage to South African newspapers, magazines and various news services.
Please don't hesitate to email us leads, story ideas and assistance.
Ilda is interested in a broad spectrum of stories, ranging from hard news to Africa or South African related information.

SA MAN DIES IN PERU
LIMA, July 23 - A South African climber was killed after being pushed into a crevass by an avalanche as he was climbing the snowy Huascaran mountain in the northern Peruvian Andes.

The accident happened Wednesday at an altitude of more than 6,500 metres (21,450 feet), but it took 48 hours for Elliot Duncan, 28, and his guide, Marco Perez, to be found.

Perez survived but Duncan was unable to resist the cold at the bottom of the crevass.

SA PARAMEDICS IN FLORIDA
Three South African paramedics are currently training with the Boca-Raton Fire-Rescue Fire Fighters in Boca Raton, Florida. The exchange between the rescue squads enables SA and the USA to share ideas on patient care and treatment.

   The three paramedics from Benoni, Jonathan Grobbelaar, Rhett Davis and Peter van der Spuy have been riding as observers with the Boca Raton Paramedics. The South African public will benefit from the exchange as it is orientated towards better patient treatment.

   Seminars on a variety of emergency medical topics are offered, as well as participation in hands-on skill labs. The seminars are geared to enable the rescue teams to provide the most advanced and current emergency medical services to the public.

   The two teams are currently participating the this year's Clincon International Advanced Life Support Competition. The competition is an annual event sponsored by the Florida Emergency Medical Foundation and will be held in Orlando until July the 16, 2000.

   Advanced Life Support refers to the highest level of pre-hospital care now available, including drug- and intravenous therapy, advanced airway management and cardiac defibrillation.

   During the competition, the teams will be judged on their emergency medical procedures. Scenarios are presented to the rescue teams and they are judged for their capabilities. Patient assessment, prioritising injuries, safety and control are only a few categories by which they are judged.

   The South African paramedics have been fortunate to attend the training program with the Boca Raton squad.
   Boca Raton have won the competition for two consecutive years, 1998 and 1999. Last year's competition took place in Cape Town in conjunction with the South African Emergency Services Institute's 23rd biannual conference, Emergency Services Africa 99.

   In addition to being the overall winner, the Boca Raton Rescue Squad won four awards in different categories last year. The team has won more awards at the Clincon competition that any other emergency medical services agency in the history of the event.

© JULUKA Newsletter and RSA-O