Living Positively

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.