Friday 9th July 2010

As with everything here, each new day brings new challenges but also new blessings. I didn’t quite know how I’d cope with the home care visits. We accompanyed the local volunteers on their visits to the sick in the community. The first two houses we visited were home to families caring for HIV positive relatives, one of whom was only 8 years old and being cared for by her mother’s cousin, since her mother’s death. In the second house there were 16 people living under one roof, with only one regular income. Suddenly poverty has faces, names and stories.

I found the final visit particularly poignant as you simply feel so helpless. The gentleman that we visited had been an accountant and there were English management books on the shelf. You could tell he was once a very able man, but three years ago he had a stroke which left him with paralyzed legs. He was so frail and skeletal with the thinnest legs I have ever seen. His wheelchair wasn’t at all padded, had part of an arm missing and the tyres had seen better days.

Having worked as an assistant to a disabled woman back home, to see the lack of support he receives was just heart-breaking. The pressure on his wife is huge as she is also a teacher so can't be with him in the day. He enjoys reading but lacks stimulation as he is housebound since the stroke. He tries to go to the clinic when he can, but sometimes they simply can’t afford the taxi fare. His chair can't be used outside as the rocks, rubbish and dust forming the streets make it so uneven.

We were able to leave some blankets and Nshima (local maize staple) mix today, but only as Mission Direct  had paid for it. The fact that the home based care volunteers are regularly visiting these people who are so isolated from the community, is really encouraging.  

On a lighter note, the tailor came back with my dress this afternoon. He has worked wonders and I feel really privileged to have had something specially made. I have also now fathomed how to tie my Chatenga (a wrap-round skirt that all local women wear) and the Zambian’s are thrilled that we are making an effort to blend in with them. Unfortunatly, I don't quite the same blending in skills when it comes to carrying washing on my head as the local ladies do with such ease!