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Published: November 4th 2012
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In my last blog entry, I mentioned a couple who live near Ndolage Hospital. I told you their story was sad and that I would share it with you.
This is their story... I warn you a couple of pictures may be disturbing... But as I said in previous entries, I promised to show you the good and the bad of my time here... This is one of those stories that puts faces to the reality of being in Africa.
Imelda and Furgence have been married for over 20 years. She is 46 years old. He is 62.
In 2004 Imelda was admitted to
Ndolage Hospital in serious condition. She was suffering from a skin rash and weakness, At that point it was recommended that she get tested for HIV. Due to the delays of funding, no HIV test kits were available. She was told to go to
Bukoba Regional Hospital. Apparently, Bukoba had test kits in stock, but unfortunately, Bukoba is one hour away from Ndolage. Imelda and Furgence did not have the financial resources to get transport there. They could not go.
She returned to the hospital in Ndolage one year later with absesses on
Imelda
She is sitting on the freshly cut grass in her "living area" of her home. The family sleeps in this area as well. her breasts and suspected meningitis. She was admitted for one month. During that time she tested positive for HIV. It is believed at this point she experienced neurological damage that is now impacting on her spine and pelvis, seriously impeding her ability to walk, and causing her constant pain that is controlled only with morphine.
Imelda is quite a lovely woman who made us feel welcome into her home. She often wears this pain all over her face. This damage is also causing incontinence.
Furgence was tested at the same time as Imelda. His result was HIV positive. They decided that the children should be tested. Imelda and Frugence had a total of six children. The first three were tested and found out they were negative The fourth and fifth children died (for reasons I am unsure of at this time) and the yougest (aged 7 or 8 at the time of the testing) tested positive, indicating that the HIV was present for at least that number of years.
Furgence is in somewhat better health but he is also deteriorating with generalized weakness and a major edema in his feet. They have a
shamba (farm) which is
The Family Gathering
This is the rear of their house. The hut in the very back is where they cook their meal. In the very back corner on the right is where they keep the one cow they own. There is a chicken coop off to the left with maybe 5 or 6 chickens. deteriorating due to their inability to work effectively and due to ever diminishing financial resources.
It is a vicious cycle, they can’t work because of ill health which means the farm produces less income so they don’t have the financial resources for the things the farm needs to produce. It just keeps getting worse.
Their farm is deteriorating. Their son, the oldest of the children, is married and is trying to run the farm for them but is not having much luck. For example, they grow coffee on their farm. The farm used to yield 300 kilos of raw coffee beans. The family would make 450,000 Tanzanian Shillings ($297.00 CAD) every two years. Now the farm only produces 55 kilos or 137,500 Tanzanian Shillings ($88.00 CAD) every two years.
It is a case where the chidlren are now taking care of the parents.
Imelda and Furgence have to go to the hospital monthly for Anti-Retro Viral medications for the HIV. They also go more often than that for Imelda's ongoing issues. They do not own a car, and there is no public transit where they live. They used to walk 7 kms to the hospital. With
Their 24 Year Old Son
He is now trying to keep the farm going, for the sake of his family. Imelda hardly able to stand (let alone walk) now, they travel the 7 km on bike... Furgence pushing the bike as Imelda sits "side saddle". If the roads are dry, the terrain good, and Furgence has the strength that day, they can make it to the hospital and back... The whole trip is 14 km.
You look at this man's feet and you wonder how he can walk to the dusty, unsteady rough road.
Their son is 24, but since both of Imelda and Furgence have to go to the hospital, and culture will not permit Imelda to speak freely about her ailments in front of her son, he does not accompany them.
This story is so sad. For me to stand in front of Imelda and Furgence (and their children) and see how dismal things are for them, was truly heartbreaking. Their house is made of mud. The floors in their "living area" is covered with freshly cut grass so they don't have to sit on the dirt. Six of them sleep on the floor in this very small space. There is no furniture in the house. Imelda sits on the floor. I only saw one
chair and one bench while I was there.
The sense of community is very strong. Many neighbourhood kids seem to hang around their farm. One neighbour boy in particular, lives with his grandmother and his mother works in Mwanza. She visits occasionally. Furgence and Imelda keep an eye on him because they believe that he is HIV positive. No one said it outright to us, but we were led to believe that his mother is a sex trade worker.
Furgence's older brother and his wife used to live next door, but both have died from AIDS.
What was amazing to me was that with all that they are facing on a daily basis, Furgence and Imelda were more than willing to speak with us on camera (through an interpreter) about their story. If HIV testing kits were readily available and they were tested in a timely manner, perhaps none of this would be their reality today.
I truly don't know how much time either Imelda and Furgence have, but I cannot imagine that is that long. No one that we spoke to at the hospital ever gave us a timeline. I don't think timelines realistic here.
Furgence's Foot
We took this picture during the interview. Ants were climbing all over the open sores on his foot. He couldn't even feel them. When I am presented with a story like this in person, and see firsthand how these people live, it makes me realize that if I am to stay in this business of
"television", this is the kind of work I need to be doing... I could not, in good conscience, return home and carry on with my old life, producing home decorating shows where the discussion revolves around paint chips, fabric swatches, and $5,000 coffee tables. As you can imagine, I have outgrown that. My priorities have changed drastically.
I have a lot to think about over the next several months.
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Jack Wetherall
non-member comment
From New York
Hi Bob:What a moving story and your words are inspiring.We have been dealt a blow here but have the resources to come back.I now have power and heat restored.We have so much when others struggle so.And thanks for your call to me.I love you Bob for your big heart. Jack