Vanna Siphesihle White

Many people have asked what kinds of food we supply to various patients and their families. So, yesterday we did some shopping and before delivering the food we decided to take some photos and make a price list to share with you. In very Swazi fashion, as we were taking the photos Siphesihle happened to walk by where we were parked and became our willing assistant. I asked her if she felt like Vanna White, and she gave me a very blank stare, so I assumed the obvious -- that my question was a rather poor attempt at humor with some pop culture thrown in. (Side note, Siphesihle turns 7 today and is scheduled to start on her ARV's on Tuesday.)

We do most of our shopping at Shoprite (a fairly large chain of grocery stores from South Africa) because the prices are the most economical and not because we enjoy the pushing, shoving and maneuvering required to get to the check-out. Yesterday we stood in line for about 2o minutes amongst all of the madness of food shopping on a Friday late afternoon. You would think that in a town of about 6,000 people that there wouldn't be such chaos getting to the check-out but that is not the case. One has to side-step the heaps of food, carts, and baskets left behind by other shoppers who became impatient or miscalculated how much they had to spend. Anyway, I digress, so on with the story. First of all I want to thank all of you who have sent money for food. It has really helped supplement the money we are spending and has made for more abundant and frequent food deliveries.

If anyone else wants to support this effort then please let us know. You can email myself (ubescott@gmail.com) for information on how to get the money to us. Basically, you can send Karen Wong a check and she will deposit it in my account in the states and then I will draw on it here with my ATM card. That is the easiest and quickest way to get the funds here. Unfortunately the Emalengeni (whose value is directly tied to the South African Rand) continues to climb in relation to the dollar. The value of the dollar in relation to the Rand has fallen by 30% since our arrival. This has made it more difficult to make give the same level of support that we were initially able to.

Following are some photos of some of the basic food items we provide for the families we are helping support, along with their prices in Emalengani. At today's exchange rates, one US dollar is equal to 7 Emalengeni or Rand.




Mealie Meal (ground corn), which is what most Swazis eat everyday. It accounts for about 90% of their diet, rich in carbohydrates, but significantly lacking in protein. It can be purchased in many different quantities i.e. 5 kg, 10 kg, 25 kg.
This 5 kg package costs E27.99.












Sugar Beans, 2 kg E19.59. The main source of protein for most Swazis and used to supplement the mealie meal. These beans are grown locally as well as imported from South Africa, as most goods and services are here in Swaziland. The beans must be boiled with water for many hours before eating them.













10kg of rice, a very welcome change to eating just mealie meal, the Swazi staple, is E70.00
























Raw peanuts: a 2kg bag is E29.99. Another good source of protein, but quite expensive for most families. The beans are placed in a cast iron pot over an open flame and roasted before eating.
















A small bag of iodized salt (500g) is E1.59





















Jungle Oats oat meal, costs E19.99
















Emasi, or sour milk, is a favorite of most Swazis, and a good source of protein. A 2 liter container is E12.99.



















Breakfast porridge: 2kg of Mabele Meal is E13.99
















Sunny soap, used for washing clothes E6.99

















Raw or Brown Sugar 3kg E16.99


















Dried soup packets E3.49 each.




















Sardines in tomato sauce, which is a luxury for most of our patients and very well liked, is an excellent source of protein E11.99

















Baked Beans, another good source of protein E4.29





















Cooking oil: 2 liters costs E25.49
















Farm fresh eggs, one and half dozen: E23.49














A welcome treat for the children, which we try to provide once in a while, are cookies: E3.59 per package.

















Peanut Butter, 1 kg E28.49, is rather expensive by local standards, so rarely purchased by the patients we see. Obviously an excellent source of protein and well liked.


















A loaf of bread 800g is E7.29
















Lion brand matches: E3.29, and candles: E9.99. Most of our patients lack any source of electricity. Matches and candles provide a way to have some light in their homestead once the sun has set.

Peace,
Scott