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Subject: AFRICA DIARY 8: TEST RESULTS
Time: 3:00:00 PM EST
Author: ajuddinafrica
Moyra and I sat in the public health clinic waiting room, tense about what might happen, waiting for our friends. They arrived calmly and shyly, but Dr. Rene, we were told, was stuck on a bus in traffic. We did not want to receive our results without him because he would need to help with the counseling in the very likely event 1-or more-of us tested positive. We inquired about how work had been the night before (they fell asleep on the street chatting), and how they had spent the day thus far (typical housekeeping and child minding chores were rattled off, including doing their wash with our water purification product, Sur Eau—they said it’s great on stains, and we know it’s cheap!). The latter topic led us to all the illnesses the kids have, and we did some follow up on everyone’s diagnosis and prescriptions. Although satisfied we would be leaving everyone in good shape, I was momentarily distracted as I remembered the horrible, deep coughs of two CSWs who did not come for testing, knowing they will not get medical treatment, and I prayed they don’t have something as serious as TB.
Dr. Rene arrived, his glorious smile in place, accompanied to my relief by Nini. That was actually why he was late; he’d been out searching the streets again for her, this time with success. She was, if it’s possible, in even worse shape. Her feet, bare as many Malagasy’s are, were filthy and crusty, and her legs were far too thin for a women in her 9th month of pregnancy. In addition to the glaze in her eyes her mouth was raw with open blisters, which Moyra thought she used the red lipstick she had on to try to cover with pitiful effect. Her recent news was that her 2 year old was sick and I cannot imagine where the baby has been throwing up and pooping, and how Nini, who of course is homeless, has been coping. Additionally, during the time Dr. Rene spent with her, he diagnosed her with parasites. Moyra and I made eye contact, confirming our inexorable wish to help her.
The clinic began to prepare to give us our results. I sat with yet another child on my lap, a lovely 8 year old girl in a fairly clean dress with only one tear, dotted with a sweet daisy print. She had on red patent leather shoes that did not match but were obviously worn with pride on her special day of meeting me. I braided her long ponytail to keep the sour smell of her hair more confined, then as I stroked her rested my other hand on Nini’s belly. Eventually, the first CSW was called.
I accompanied her into a small counseling room. She sat in chair across a desk from a social worker, and I kneeled beside her, arm around her shoulders, eyes fixed on the small stack of papers that I knew were everyone’s HIV test results. The social worker went very carefully over the number on the card the CSW produced, visually and verbally confirming that the number matched the certificate, and that she was the age and gender indicated (testing is name anonymous). The social worker then slid the paper forward with the test outcome validated by an official stamp: NEGATIVE. The woman went through a transfiguration rivaled by Jesus’ on the mount, from grim, fearful stoicism to an outburst of relief and joy. “Negatif, negatif” she kept repeating, shaking the social worker’s hand as if she’d been given a diploma, crying some, but really being far too overjoyed to do any one thing for more than a second. I bawled shamelessly, caught up in the miracle but also the knowledge that the next CSWs result could be disastrous. We had 6 more to go before we were done.
The process repeated itself again and again, the frightened but resolute woman in the chair, me on the floor beside her, numbers and details verified, and results presented. They were unbelievable:
NEGATIF.
NEGATIF.
NEGATIF.
NEGATIF.
NEGATIF.
NEGATIF.
A series of miracles and the most eloquent tribute possible to the power of peer education. 7 veteran sex workers with over 75 years on the streets and thousands upon thousands of tricks turned amongst them had tested negative for HIV.
We all reacted in our own way. The social worker immediately began reinforcing risk management behavior and correct, consistent condom use. Our stills photographer, squished in the corner, a veteran of some of the world’s grimmest scenes in countries I bet the U.S. State Department couldn’t find on a map, cried openly behind her lens. The VH-1 documentary crew openly declared it the heaviest thing any of them had ever been through. Moyra didn’t breathe until pregnant Veronica and the toothless granny were also negative, the two we had been most sure were positive. And the women themselves each responded in such a unique variety of ways, some with an outburst, some with collapse, some with giggles, that any actor who says she can’t find a different, human way to respond in a scene of which she has to do many takes has no imagination.
Back in the waiting room the fact that all of us were free and clear of this decimating virus allowed jubilation to break out. There was clapping, dancing, singing, and a prayer.
Now, I could leave my friends without the sense of panic and hysteria I had felt a day earlier when we had parted. They are free from HIV and I fully expect all of them to remain that way. Sahooly and I shared a quiet moment when she said she couldn’t wait to go home to tell her husband, although we both confirmed the importance of them using a condom together. Relief must be tempered by reality.
*
As we left, I spoke with Dr. Rene about passing him the money to pay for all the medical care everyone’s ailments required, and in particular what to do about Nini. We agreed that at our farewell gathering that night we would give him a small fund out of which he would settle prescription costs. It’s the least we could do, and in fact is very inexpensive. The costs for delivering Nini’s baby at a clinic, plus her meds, her 2 year old’s meds, and the med’s for all the other CSW’s sick babies, was les than $100.US….
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Hey Ms. Judd,
I found this on AOL and thought you might want to know about it if you hadn't heard already.
It seems that there is a new strain of HIV that is drug resistant. Here is the link so you can read the whole story.....
http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=200502120008 09990004
Keep your spirits and the good work you are doing up up up.
Meredith -
Ashley,
This weekend I had to travel to KY and all I could think about was your journal. I wasn't able to access the internet until today. I was amazed to find out that all the test came back negative. It was surely none other that a miracle. We only have to thank God for this.
You are truely an insperation to me. I love the characters that you portray and I admire the truly amazing person that you are. Please stay safe. My prayers are with you. God bless.
Brittannie.
(In other good news.. UK won 60 to 51 against Georgia yesterday, but again you probably knew this!) -
Dear Ashley
I saw your recent television interview on the program "3rd Degree" and was quite inspired by your work and particularly the spirit in which you approach what you do.
It reminded me so much of the liberating work being done with AIDS Orphans in the township of Alexandra (Johannesburg) by a group of people inspired by the therapeutic work of Brandon Bays (author of the best selling book: The Journey). For more on that:
http://www.thejourney.com/thejourney/outreach/mamaportia.ht ml
Warm wishes from South Africa for you and your whole team. Namaste.
Gerrit -
Such a miracle! Wonderous...affirming...yes, miracles happen. Every day, every where. So much more powerful when completely unexpected. I, too, leave smiling today. :)
1/26/06 6:30 PM
I'm an Army wife of almost 9 yrs. God's blessed me with 3 beautiful children, my daughter died almost 6 yrs ago from AML leukemia...and I have 2 precious boys.
My own fight against childhood cancer is a battle in itself and it saddens me beyond words when I think of all the ignorance about AIDS in countries such as Africa and other 3rd world countries that just don't understand how simple prevention could be.
I'm praying for all of them. I hope you'll find time to update on Nini, how she's doing, etc.
God Bless
Christy