Letters from Zimbabwe

From Dennis:

Since Brian’s funeral the days and weeks have flown by. Tinashe Basa, the young man who works with me, (and who dug Brian’s grave) and I visited Brian’s family to film the local inyanga (traditional healer) for the documentary Elli is working on. When we arrived Mr. Sibanda, Brian’s grandfather, was on the other side of the ridge attending the funeral of a 25-year-old woman who died of HIV related causes. Children were sent to get him. In the meantime I saw Brian’s grandmother (gogo) who complained of soaking night sweats. The local clinic gave her aspirin. (I’m thinking HIV) I told her to wait to see if they passed in a couple of days and if they didn’t to come back to Bulawayo and I’d take her to the doctor.

She returned a couple days later. In the meantime I visited Brian’s aunt, Florence, who is HIV positive and lives next door to Brian’s home to inquire about Director, her 14-year-old boy who is involved in my doll project. She greeted me at the door with immensely swollen neck glands and a half dollar sized oozing cyst in the middle of her forehead. On Monday I took them both to Sashka, the Serbian doctor. The gogo had blood pressure of 185 over 120 and anemia. Florence got antibiotics and anti nausea prescriptions. She is fighting HIV with the local ARV regimen has been loosing weight consistently over the last few months. There are no second tier ARV drugs here. Her prognosis is grim. Gogo got blood pressure meds and anti anemia meds. Sashka also prescribed her one egg a day for anemia so I bought a tray (2 ½ dozen) for her. Got Florence a tray as well.

A few days later I checked on gogo and Florence. Both are doing better. Then I stopped by Prosper’s house. He’s a terrific 16-year-old boy who helps a great deal with the younger kids and keeps records for Sipho and, since Sipho has no phone, is my conduit to the group. He said his 38-year-old mother was sick. Said the blood vessels in her eyes were pulling them shut. I went into his house, greeted his grandparents and into the back bedroom. His mom was sitting there with a hat covering her eyes. They were swollen shut. She had just been tested for HIV and came out positive and began ARV’s a month ago. Her left leg was swollen and around her ankle was a deep wound of the sort Brian had on his head. The area around the wound was charcoal black. Several circular scars the size of quarters were on her calf. She was frightened to death. I checked out her meds and told her I’d take her to the doctor’s Friday along with Florence.
On the way home I saw Gogo Dlamini, who cares for 7 orphans - all grandchildren - walking toward the police station. The youngest boy, Mthobisi, (10 year’s old) was arrested for stealing a remote clicker. He’s floundering since his three cousins aged 14, 15, and 16 who gogo also cared for decided to steal a computer and hitch a ride to South Africa illegally. They took along Director, whose caregiver is Florence with the swollen glands. Director managed to find his sister in South Africa. It’ll cost 300 Rands to get him back. He’s a good kid, the type that will learn a lesson and he has the money from his doll sales. He should return next week. The other three disappeared to god knows where in South Africa. Their 70-year-old grandmother is worn out, spent but there are the three girls age 8 to 16 to care for. So she trudges on.

I have a mini epidemic of scabies going on which I am trying to get under control. When the kids together they all sit shoulder-to-shoulder making their dolls and transmitting scabies. Charles Zulu and his sister came two weeks ago covered with crusty itchy bumps and said their mother had it also. Got them the treatment and a week later their mother complained it hadn’t gone away so bought some more medicine. When I went to their home I discovered that nine people lived in their 2-room house and 8 had scabies. So I got enough medicine for everyone.

Last week three more kids/ three different families showed up with it. Expect it to be an ongoing problem for the next months or so as it takes 6 weeks from contact to show up. Each small jar of medicine – enough for one person is about $5 US. Feel like I have to buy it by the gallon!

One of the dangers in this work is that whatever I do word gets around. So when I provide treatment for scabies people tend to come out of the woodwork hoping for help with myriad medical problems because they cannot afford treatment. Then it’s a Solomon’s choice. Some you assist some you can’t. Some live some die. One falls asleep wondering if you could have done more.
The kids are now in school, though it’s unlikely to continue for long. Teachers are likely to strike soon. The annual inflation rate had passed, a conservative, five sextillion, or 5,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 percent. They gave the teachers $100 US last month but nothing more since. There are billion and trillion dollar notes on the ground in trash heaps as they are worthless. All goods are now sold in US or Rand.

Saturday is food delivery day. After they bring home the food they return and we play games, talk and laugh. Kids have a wonderful in the moment existence that is a cherished relief. This week they’ll each get:
10 exercise books, 2 pens, and 4 pencils
10 kg maize meal
2 litres cooking oil
Vegetables including butternut, tomatoes and cabbage (prices have tripled so sticking with the favorites)
2 kg sugar
2 kg of Beef
They continue to make dolls and are getting more and more innovative and creative. They really enjoy it. Collen, 16 years old, has become a real artist with his dolls. They are incredible.

I am due back to the states around the 12 May. So I am working hard to make sure the work continues while I’m away and putting things and people in place to that end.
My best to you all.
Dennis.

Carpe Diem.