Our survey of the communities and diarrheal disease this past summer will be published shortly. Dr. Alexander will first meet with both the medical staff in the region and the traditional leaders to share the findings of the study and identify feedback on study conclusions. Developing partnerships with communities is an essential component of developing community capacity to lead health improvement initiatives. Research cannot be of relevance unless it shared and discussed with those who own the problems and must implement solutions.

Homes in our study area can be built in the traditional manner as seen above. When the rains come, this can bring new problems for people living in this area. Understanding the constraints and challenges to rural livelihoods in this area is key to understanding how people use the natural resources and are coupled to the dynamics of the system.

Dr Alexander with Grant Nel in assistance, samples elephants for anthrax. In this wetland system anthrax is a recurrent dry season disease that affects principally elephant, zebra, and buffalo. The rains have come and with it, cessation of cases.

Teaching children about wildlife conservation is key to the NSF project. Here team members show local school children the impact of snaring on this immobilized wart hog in the Chobe wetlands study site. The snare injury is visible on the abdomen.  The wart hog recovered fully and joined her piglets!

 

Read our new article recently published-

 

 The Occurrence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia Infections Among Patients Reporting Diarrheal Disease in Chobe District, Botswana

Dr. Alexander conducted surveys this past summer in Chobe District with Mr. Mpho Ramatadima . Many households are run by women who have unique problems when water quality affects the health of their children. Many  do not have readily available support systems and must take time off work to seek medical care for their children. While it is well understood that men travel for wage employment leaving families behind, women also leave for wage employment and with them, often, they bring their children with them. These women must handle the needs of the family and work simultaneously. Health dynamics can impact these single headed households profoundly.  Understanding women's problems and their needs will be pivotal in developing gender sensitive interventions for improved rural livelihoods.

Virginia Tech and CARACAL work together in Chobe District to better understand the interaction between water, health, wildlife and humans. The field laboratory is located here and overlooks the Chobe National Park.