Tranquil, Green Oasis
Upon arriving at Fann, we toured the labyrinth of the peaceful hospital garden. We all know that nutrition is essential to good health -- but it's especially important for people living with HIV. So in the gardens, patients grow an assortment of fresh produce -- everything from tomatoes, to peppers, to herbs. Walking among the rows of plants, you can't help noticing the fragrance of fresh basil. In the center of the garden grows a maranga tree; its leaves and pods are an important source of protein. At Fann, I was allowed to indulge in one of my favorite pastimes, and do a little gardening myself. Somehow, when I left Washington, I didn't expect to be harvesting eggplant half a world away! Like any parent, I pressed my daughter into helping with the yard work.
The concept of Fann's garden was developed in 2003 by a Senegalese doctor. Three years later, the support of USAID -- and the skill of an American Peace Corps volunteer, Steve Bolinger -- brought the doctor's plan to life. Fann's gardens, which feed more than 100 patients, have introduced new nutritious vegetables, like kale and collard greens, into Senegalese cuisine. Steve also shows patients how to get the most from their labors, and use the entire plant for food. I learned today that beet leaves actually have more nutritional value than the beets -- and at Fann, the patients saute the leaves like spinach. I'll have to try that recipe when I get home.