Operation Rice Bowl: A Lenten Tradition
Cameroon
Take this virtual tour of Cameroon and learn more about how CRS is supporting people living with HIV.
A Story and Recipe from Cameroon
My name is Angeline and I live in Batouri, Cameroon, a country in central Africa. I am living positively with HIV. A few years ago, I started to get sick on a regular basis. My husband also began to be sick often, and in a short time he died. A doctor suggested I be tested for HIV. I got the test, and the result was positive. At first, I couldn't believe the result. After a year of being in denial, I was retested and got the same HIV-positive result. I began taking anti-retroviral treatment and joined REDSSEC (Revitalization of Health Care in the East, Cameroon), an association for people living with HIV, which is supported by Catholic Relief Services.
The association brings people living with HIV together so that we can build positive and supportive relationships and form a strong social support system for each other. We also learn the importance of eating healthy meals and continuing our anti-retroviral treatment as a way to slow the progression of HIV, so we can live positively with the disease. The association also provides education and revenue generating activities so we can continue to support our families even while living with HIV. Even though I have HIV, I now have friends facing the same challenges who help me every day with their support.
Cameroonian Fried Vegetables (serves 5)
- 3 packages chopped frozen spinach or greens
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 Tbsp or 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 5 stalks of celery, chopped
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 5 potatoes or yams, chopped
- 2 Tbsp oil
- Salt (to taste)
Boil spinach or greens until soft. Strain and set aside. Cook potatoes or yams and set aside.
Add oil to a frying pan. Pan-fry onions, garlic and celery for 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and fry for an additional 5 minutes. Add spinach or greens and salt. Cook on medium for 10 minutes.
Add yams or potatoes and serve.
