Today, I am interviewing the person who has been trying her best to bring more smiles to PLWHA (People Living With HIV/AIDS) in Ethiopia. She is Yumi, a Japanese nurse who came here as JOCV (Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer) volunteer.  She has been introducing the unique exercise for PLWHA. 
First of all, what is your job as a volunteer in Ethiopia?
I came here to assist in improving the health of HIV/AIDS patients in different communities in Addis Ababa under HAPCO.

What do you think of HIV patients in Ethiopia compare to Japan
In terms of a group, as I have been seeing a group of HIV/AIDS patients in Japan, in general, a group of Ethiopian patients have less opportunities in medical care and having less nutrition.

However, they are much more positive and I think they express more towards their concern to other patients. For example, whenever there is a patient looks blue, they seem sense it, even the slight change, and cheer up that person. I also found that they seem have stronger tight or bond among themselves that can cheer up themselves from discrimination against them.

How are the physical conditions of the patients?
I see that there are many patients who have physical disabilities caused by HIV/AIDS that they suffer from many problems in their internal systems; immune system, nerve system, respiratory system and circulatory system. As you know, our muscles, bone and joints will be weakened if we don’t use these physical parts and internal system.

Our external physical parts and internal system ate connected through nerve system, so we have to use actively everyday but it is difficult for such patients to do so because they have many physical problems. They need very slow and easy exercise to keep their good condition. However, many patients depend on physiotherapy given by overcrowded hospitals to solve this problem. They must wait a long line to take such treatment in hospitals, so I when I visit Ethiopian patients at their homes, I saw many of them crying for pain in their body or cannot move from the bed because they are not using their body. But there must be some ways to let them move their body to stop deteriorate their body function.

And you came up with introducing this exercise
Yes, I though that there must be a way to move their body that are easy, no cost (free), and can do it by themselves at anytime and in anywhere.

So what kind of exercise is it?
The exercise is very simple and takes only 5 minutes and since this exercise is very easy and slow, there is no stress for the patients. You move your body with a cheerful music. With my patients, we only do it 1 to 2 times a week and you may think it’s a bit, but still, it is effective. I see the positive “before and after” difference of my patients.

What were the positive changes of your patients after continuing this exercise?
We do this exercise with a group of patients by standing, but there was this person who could not so joined by sitting, but nowadays, this person can exercise by standing! I check their blood pressure every time before they start this exercise because sometimes, it is dangerous to do the exercise if the blood pressure is too high, but more patients come with normal pressure after they continue this exercise.

So how often do you suggest doing this exercise?
It’s only a 5 minutes exercise, so of course it is good to do for everyday, but then the patient should not force him/herself especially the body condition is bad. What is important is that even for once a week, by doing this exercise, the patient to be actively involved in their own health. Meaning, not the nurse telling them what to do, but the patients to decide by themselves like “let me do it by standing today” or “I feel a bit tired, so let me just sit and do it today”. In other words, I want the patients to be more active in controlling their health by themselves, knowing their conditions and choosing the best solution by themselves.  By the way the name of this exercise is called “shaki-shaki exercise”.

What does it mean? 
“Syaki-Syaki” is a very positive word in Japanese. It means “healthy”, “happy”, “active”, “free” and “cheerfull”. So many Japanese people want to live like this if they have diseases and troubles.

Thank you very much and hope to see the difference in many patients in the very near future!
Yes, I hope the patients would realize that even if they have serious physical and mental problems, they can be strong whenever they want. I really love Ethiopia and Ethiopian people so let’s fight against HIV/AIDS together!

Positive effects of exercise to the patient’s body, both internal system and external body・Strengthen the immune system.
・Strengthen the function of circulation and respiratory system.
・Strengthen the muscles and joints without hard exercise.
・ Give the good stimulations to the nervous system gently

In addition, I strongly suggest to exercise with smiles and laughs because by happy feelings and laughs, you will strengthen “The Natural Killer Cell” that is the natural fighters inside your body that fights against virus, bacteria and cancer cell.