Stellenbosch University, City of Cape Town

Lucky enough to be accepted as one of the postgraduate students of the prestigious Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, time for me to visit my new university has finally arrived. The course, in fact, is a Postgraduate Diploma in HIV/AIDS Management (PDM), the only one of its kind started since 2001 under the joint venture of Stellenbosch University, UNAIDS and Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management. It is a full-time, one year and online study programme designed for professionals in the work place, so that each can make a difference in the areas of prevention and management of HIV/AIDS. Students of this programme are all expected to be computer literate so that they will be able to have access to their study materials and submit their assignments through the Web CT (website computer tools) of the university. Thanks to technology, new knowledge and information I gained from my research in rural Zambia will be sent through the Web CT and will actually be part of the huge database collected and stored by the university's IT department. Let's now have a tour of the place.

Table Mountain as seen from Signal Hill. Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain overlooking the city of Cape Town. Its top can be accessed either by hiking or using a cable car (rope way). It forms part of the Table Mountain National Park. It is flanked by Devil's Peak to the east and Lion's Head to the west.

This is the way to the famous university town called Stellenbosch. The distance from Cape Town centre to Stellenbosch is approximately 50 km. The documented history of Stellenbosch dates back to 1679 and it was quickly identified as as an area which had real potential for agriculture. The soil proved to be very fertile and the climate was conducive for producing vegetables to sustain ships passing by the Cape of Good Hope enroute to the other Dutch colonies in the East. Stellenbosch saw its hills and valleys planted with vines by the end of the 17th century. Up to this time it has been a hub for the flourishing wine industry and is called 'The Wine Capital of South Africa'

This is a bird's eye view of Stellenbosch town and its surrounding mountains. The photo was taken from the window of the 7th floor of one of the university's residences where I was accomodated during my stay. The population in Stellenbosch is 65,000 of which 22, 269 are students. Today this buzzing University town is also lovingly known as the Town of Oaks or "Eikestad". The reason for this is obvious when you stroll down the oak lined streets.

These are two of Stellenbosch University's buildings. The foundations for Stellenbosch's heritage as an educational centre were laid in 1859 when a theological seminary was established. In 1918 a university was founded and to this day the University of Stellenbosch remains an internationally recognised educational institution and one of the leading universities of the African continent.

Far away beyond an oil tanker is Robben Island. Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, about seven kilometres off the coast of Cape Town.It is of particular note as it was here that former South African President and Nobel Laureate Nelson Mandela was imprisoned during the apartheid era from April 1964 to April 1984. From 1836 to 1931 the island was also used as a leper colony.

Youngsters of JL Zwane Centre performing one of their dance and song items during our visit to the centre. JL Zwane is one of the 11 centres which has affiliation with Stellenbosch University’s ‘Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management’. In this centre orphans of AIDS found refuge and are being cared for until they are developed with certain skills and prepared to face the world on their own.

AIDS orphans having their midday meal time at JL Zwane Centre. Statistic shows that in South Africa, about one in five adults are HIV positive. South Africa also currently has 1.2 million AIDS orphans. The HIV prevalence rate among pregnant women is 30.2%. Average life expectancy in South Africa is now 54 years – without AIDS, it is estimated that it would be 64. Hospitals are struggling to cope with the number of HIV-related patients that they have to care for and AIDS account for 60-70% of medical expenditure in South African hospitals.

The sign says it’s Kloof road. This road neither has special significance nor is an important landmark. But it just got my attention and hence is being posted here. Besides its natural beauty, maybe at that time I was just curious of where to this country road leads.

Lion's Head which is to the west of the Table Mountain forms an important landmark and looks so magnificent when viewed from the Signal Hill. There is a trekking route leading up to the summit and I just wonder how many people might have already been to the top, and of course, to what level the surge of adrenaline be at their moments of achievement.

A view of Cape Town and the Atlantic Ocean from Signal Hill. Signal Hill is a landmark flat-topped hill located in Cape Town, next to Lion's Head and Table Mountain. Signal flags were used to communicate weather warnings as well as anchoring instructions to visiting ships in order to ensure that they prepared adequately for stormy weather while in the bay. Similarly, ships could use flags to signal for assistance, for example, during a storm.

Another view of Cape Town. This picture was taken from a hilly and winding road leading to the Signal Hill. You can actually see part of the road already taken by us on our journey uphill towards the Signal Hill.

'Camps Bay' with its idyllic beaches spanning all across the coastal area. We have to journey downhill in order to get there. On both sides of the road are planted flowers of diverse variety with well-planned residential area lining the road.

'South Africa 2010' is on the way! Here is one of the many newly constructed stadia for the game. The location is just ideal, very close to the Atlantic Ocean and the historic Robben Island is not far away. Of course, the stadium is yet far from completion, but the organisers are hopeful that they will be able to do the final touches on time. The picture is taken from Signal Hill. Let me be specific. This stadium is called the Green Point Stadium and its capacity is a crowd of 70,000. It is situated between the Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean.

Even at this age, the heart of Cape Town still resonates with a historical atmosphere and cultural appeal. The city reflects over three centuries of occupation, including Dutch, Georgian and Victorian architecture.

The Table Mountain stands out prominently even from the centre of Cape Town. It attracts more of my attention than what all the architectural beauty of the town does.

The Lion's Head also stands out from behind the trees as tall as that of the city's skyscrapers.

The light posts, the pine trees and the Lion's Head all seem to compete for 'who' is the tallest.

A mix of natural and technological wonder can still be beautiful.

One afternoon at the beach. Sea, Sun and Sand are all gifts from God.

The popular Mariner's Wharf. Only seafoods are served here. It is just by the Atlantic Ocean and it's no wonder they have varieties of seafood.

Hope that you enjoy your virtual tour of Stellenbosch and Cape Town. Have a nice day.

Life's Like This

KRISMAS

Khawvel hmun danga kan chhungkhat leh thenrual ten Sikni Eng hnuaiah Krismas leh Kumthar lawma hlim taka hun an hman laiin, Chikankata hmunah zawng 'boruak lo' zetin Fur Khawchhe hnuaiah he hunpui hi kan tlingtla ve a. Krismas tukin vantlang huap inkhawmna kan nei a (he inkhawm hian minute 45 chhung a awh hram, engvang nge ni teh reng Krismas tuk kan inkhawm hi a rei lo khawp mai, hun danga kan inkhawm hian darkar 3 aia rei a awh tlangpui si a). Chawhnuah kan expat-pui chhungkaw 5, ram hrang hranga mite nen chawhlui kan kil ho ve a. Hei hi kan Krismas hman dan chu a ni mai a, Zoram 'mas a ngaihawm duh ngei mai.

Mahse thil pakhat, kan fate tan mai bakah keini nupa leh kan thian dangte tan pawha hun hlimawm tak min buatsaih sak tu chu kan Sunday School naupangte Krismas drama chang kha a ni. Kan thawhpui Dr. Elsa Bjorkqvist-i (Swedish) hoin hneh takin an chang a, min tihlim mai bakah Krismas sermon ropui tak min theh sak a ni.

Krismas leh Kumthar vuakvet hun chhung zawng pawh hian ka nupui leh fate kianga ka hun hman leh kan damlote kianga ka hun hman a inzat leh nawk a. Mapuii'n holiday hun thawl tak a nei thei a, a theih ang angin kan fate leh keima tan pawh Krismas boruak a lo siam a.

AT WORK
Hospital lamah ve thung chuan mak deuh maiin, darkar 24 chhungin zum leh hriam avanga inhliam mi pathum buaipui tur ka nei tlat pek a. Pakhat chu hmeichhe naupang kum 5 mi, a patea te nen nghakuai an chiahnaah an intipalh a, a khabea nghakuai leh a hrui inches 8 vela sei la bur va va chungin an rawn kal a. Nghakuai hi kibar nei a nih avangin a tang nghet deuh tih lohah chuan naupang hi chiu muin awlsam takin ka phawi thei mai a. A pahinhna hi nu kum 25 mi, a puansuknaah puan thuina hriauin a chhun a, a hriau chanve chu a banrek dinglamah lutin a bung zui a, X -ray kaihhruaina hnuaiah hei pawh hi harsa loin ka zai chhuahsak mai a.

A pathumna erawh hi chuan medical & surgical skill bak a duh tlat mai. Tawhsual tawktu hi kan nurse a nih bakah, HIV positive mai ni lo AIDS vei tawh thisen zama damdawi a chiu luhna hriau ngeiin a kut veilam zungpui a vit tlang palh hlauh a. A pasal, kan staff ni ve tho nen thla 6 kalta khan inneiin an fa pakhatna tur a pai tan lehnghal a. Mi pathum - amah, a pasal leh a fa pai lai te hriselna venhim hna thawh a tul ta a ni.

HIV hrikin a tihbawlhhlawh hriau (contaminated needle) hmanga inchhun palh atanga miin HIV a kai theihna chance hi a sang lutuk lo hlauh, 0.5% vel anga chhut a ni. A intipalhtuin a intihpalh atanga darkar 24 chhunga tana thla khat chhung thleng Antiretrovirals (ARVs) damdawi a lak chuan, ‘Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)’ a la tihna a ni a, HIV a kai theihna chance kha a lo hniam ta duai a, a kai thei lo (seroconversion awm thei lo) tluk a ni. Chutiang bawkin HIV pai thisen neitu kha ARV damdawia engemawchen lo enkawl tawh a nih chuan a thisena HIV hrik awm (viral load) kha a hniam em avangin, midang hnena HIV hrik a kaidarh theihna chance a tlem em em bawk. Kan nurse intihpalhna thisen neitu AIDS avanga damlo pawh hi ARV hmanga enkawl mek anih avangin, kan nurse naupai lai ni bawk si hian PEP a lak ngai loah kan ngai ta a. Seroconversion awm thei lo tura kan ruat bakah, a naute pai lai kha ARV damdawi hmanga tihhmelhem kan duh lo bawk a. Theih ang tawka thlamuan leh Pathian venhimna dilpui chu kan tihsak theih tha berah kan ruat ta a ni.

Tin, PEP lak hma hian accident tawktu khan tunhma atanga HIV hrik a lo pai tawh leh tawh loh test vat a ngai a. HIV positive a lo ni reng tawh a ni palh hlauh a nih chuan PEP lak kha thil thalo zawk a ni. A chhan chu nakin hunah ARV lak mamawh hun a la nei dawn a, ARV course hniam leh rei lo PEP a lak chuan ‘drug resistance’ a nei ang a, a mamawh tak ARV course pangngai kha a taksaa HIV hrikte do let turin a chak tawk thei dawn tawh lo a ni.

AIDS hluarna hmun apiangah hriselna lam hnathawktute pawhin HIV an kai theihna (occupational/workplace exposure) chance a sang ve zel a. Theih tawpa fimkhur nia inhriat hnu pawhin a tama tamna hmunah chuan ‘accident’ a thleng zing tho tho. Inchiuna hriaua inchhun, taksa pema thisen/tuihnang lut, inzaina hmuna inhliam leh mita thisen per lut te hi intihpalhna tam ber a ni awm e.

Fimkhur hi a tha ber reng dawn a, hlauh erawh engtik lai mahin himna a ni ngai hek lo. Krista hminga midang nunna chhan nana thawktute chu Pathian venhimnain a zui zel ang tih hi ka ring a. Chutih laiin, engpawh an chungah lo thleng se, Lalber tana an nunna hlan tawhtute an nih avangin vanduaiah an inruat tawh ngai lo ang.