I have made a very good friend in my
first month in the village. She is the head nurse and mid-wife (her
title is head nurse but she is the only nurse at the health center).
Mrs. Banda is a petite woman with beautiful teeth, strength for days,
and frizzy unkempt cornrows, which she often keeps covered with
bright patterned fabric allowing her to add some flare to her white
nursing uniform. She has time and time again provided me with a hot
meal while I have been getting accustomed to starting a fire to cook,
something that takes a great deal of time. When she isn’t nursing
she spends her time looking after her 3-year-old granddaughter,
Doodoo. Doodoo and I bonded rather quickly, which makes my time at
the Banda household comfortable and easy. Several years ago Mrs.
Banda worked in another village with a Peace Corps volunteer so she
is aware of the cultural differences, making her and her home a gift.
Mrs. Banda also spends her time harvesting maize, groundnuts, and
sunflower seeds. When I help her she insists I wear a beanie so my
hair doesn’t get dirty, although I try to refuse there is no luck
because she insists. So it is hot outside and I am wearing a
Steelers Beanie. Despite me looking and feeling foolish I enjoy the
time we spend together. She is generous with no anticipation of
receiving anything in return, not just with me with all.
Two nights ago she had me over for
dinner and we were debriefing my day of helping distribute ARV’s to
the HIV/AIDS patients. She said in a very somber yet matter of fact
tone that I would be very surprised by who takes the medication to
keep immunity up and opportunistic disease at bay. I said that I
was. I was surprised that young healthy looking men were taking the
pills and saddened by the children who were coming in to receive
treatment although encouraged by their high level of activity and
low-grade side effects. She said again that I would be surprised at
who takes ARV’s, she then proceeded to tell me her story. In 1988
after she became a widow a European Doctor advised her to be tested,
she was in fact HIV positive. Listening with great devotion I heard
her story. This strong, constantly working and caring for others
grandmother is infected. Mrs. Banda has had one prayer for over
twenty years that God keep her healthy as long as her children still
need her. Her selflessness is something I may never know but I do
understand this…she is teaching me what it means to live
positively.
