Ashley Judd's Africa Journal

At a café, Moyra and I waited for our friends, who, to our delight, showed up numbering not 5, but 7, and were accompanied by beautiful children.  We ate pizza and while we ate, I asked if they would prefer to wait to discuss out tests at the center, out of earshot of the café staff (remember how extreme the taboo is here), and again this remarkable group of strong woman surprised me:  they didn’t mind discussing it one bit.  But, really, there wouldn’t be all that much to say until we got our results back, so we talked about other illnesses, because I noticed one of the baby’s lungs were full of fluid, and I got Dr. Rene on that, and someone’s 2 year old is near needing to be hospitalized for malaria, so we took care of that, and we talked about Nini, the pregnant homeless woman from the rice tents, who unfortunately Dr Rene, even though he scoured the streets, had not been able to find.

We took our tests and were disappointed to learn we could not get rapid results (35% of all people who are tested do not return to get their results), and our suspense was left in tact for another 24 hours.  We hugged and kissed and bade farewell again…

*

Next I visited a Top Reseau clinic, a fine example of public health impact with private sector efficiency and delivery. Geared for youth, Top Reseauis a franchise expanding throughout the country, where a full medical examination, including education and counseling, costs 75 cents.  I lovedthe doctor I met, an affable, approachable woman with fabulous bedside manner. I could have talked to her all day, but her waiting room was crowded, (a very, very good thing!) so I just visited her during an appointment with a patient who was sweet enough to let me sit in.  He was 24, a typical Malagasy youth, and had first come to see the doctor because of his STI symptoms. He was back to ask if now that his symptoms (burning during urination, discharge, etc.) had stopped, did he still need to use a condom?  (YES!)

Our young friend seemed to grasp he needed to continue using a condom, but when I asked him about HIV….even though he’s already had syphilis…he said it would never happen to him.  Our conversation was apropos of the Malagasy denial that is so widespread, and I watched as the doctor did her thing, to which I added that I personally knew 2 HIV+ Malagasy.  To say he was shocked would mild-he was totally floored.  He is a prime example why the education and prevention work is so urgent. The sero-prevelance is low, but the recipe is in place for the kind of cataclysm that is wrecking the African continent, especially with Madagascar’s extremely high incidence of STI’’s (one of the world’s highest, also highest in sterility caused by STI’s).  Being here is a unique opportunity to help avert disaster, a hopeful work as opposed to the sense of chaos one has in countries where it’s all already so out of hand.  When I left Top Reseau, trusting the good doctor to reach her neighborhood’s youth, what the test results would be for my CSW friends came fearfully throbbing to my mind again……..

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• #4 Comment from desertgirl1434 
  2/13/05 2:00 AM | Permalink

  Hi Ashley I have just watched 3rd degree on Sunday morning in South Africa and listened intensely to what you are doing for our aids suffers, and I would like to say that God has given you the gift to help people.  We appreciate everything you are doing to help AIDS awareness. It is very sad and as you said in your interview you wish the world was at peace, so do I.
  
  Keep up the good work and may GOD always bless you.
  
  Regards
  
  Janine
  
  janine@aerosat.co.za
  
• #3 Comment from ohiobound07 
  2/10/05 4:35 PM | Permalink

  I am still very inspired by your journal. It has moved me to tears more than once already. God bless.
  
  My prayers will be with you.
  
  Brittannie
• #2 Comment from holofernesstrugg 
  2/10/05 2:55 PM | Permalink

  dear madame judd.
  
                             day after day your altruist fame grows up among the world public opinion. i beg, i dare you in the kindest way to asume the anti-AIDS-HIV's spread cause right here, in the heart of south america.
  peru, my country, may be the pilot project of a great crusade for thousands and thousands of young people who, as well it was in cambodia and siam, are waiting for you with their open souls and arms.
  
  to your feet, your humble servant,
  
  fernando flores-zuñiga
  bizman, lima-peru
  
• #1 Comment from delela1 
  2/10/05 2:04 PM | Permalink

  To open your entry with such wonderful news.  But I wonder...what news of Nini?  You are making a difference...the seeds of information you, Dr. Rene...all of you, now plant shall bloom someday.  Someday.
  ~Dona