Thursday 26 July 2007

Madalitso

This morning Madalitso has to go to the hospital for her check-up and to renew her prescription… She’s in perfect health. I ask Anna about her future… No parents. Her grandmother wants her back even with her condition (HIV positive). But she’s quite an old lady and Madalitso has to take her medication twice a day at an exact time. If she misses it, her immune system goes down and becomes very vulnerable. Anna thinks that with her grandmother, Madalitso’s chances of survival are pretty low. If the grandmother doesn’t change her mind, the only option will be to take the matter to court… She’s so beautiful and alive. It breaks my heart…

Today is also Anna’s farewell. Anna is the nurse and she is transferred to the Crisis Nursery of Mzuzu. The ceremony is quite…intense. There are speeches, prayers – a lot of prayers, songs… They translate everything for me. It’s nice of them. They make me dance. I go to Shoprite (supermarket) with Davison. I want to buy some cakes and drinks… They are so happy when I come back. I even have to pose with the cake…


Anna is the lady on the right. One friend carries her bag, another her basket and another her present... That's was a nice day.

On my way back, there is a truck blocking the road. I have to walk to Kumbali Lodge. The village's kids follow me. A courageous one shakes my hand... They all want to touch me now. It's funny. I take some pictures with my digital camera and show them to them. It's enough to make them happy...