AIDS

We sat in the waiting room with the patients for about fifteen minutes—and I couldn't help wondering which of them had AIDS. This disease is not a huge problem here in West Africa like it is in other parts of the continent, but it's still prevalent enough to give this tiny hospital 700 clients.

Bea is an AIDS counselor and had a lot going on; but she graciously took twenty minutes to answer my questions. Her main objective is to educate AIDS victims and their families on how the disease can be avoided and be treated. Most people are in denial, believing there is no AIDS in Liberia. Many didn't know they had the disease until they went for prenatal care or tried to donate blood ... or got sick.

As Bea talked, I was overwhelmed by how many important issues there are to deal with—this one as important as any others.

Here's a heartbreaking story Bea told me that I've incorporated into my book:

“I’m scared,” Arway whispered.

Lydia turned around and saw Arway staring into space. Lydia gently rubbed her back. What else could she do?

“I knew the end would come, I just didn’t know it would come this soon,” Arway whispered.

“When did you first know you had AIDS?” Lydia asked.

“We saw signs of it in my husband first. I was here at this clinic with him many times—right up until he died.”

“Oh, Arway!”

“His sister had died, leaving behind a 2-year-old child,” Arway explained. “Our tradition was to take the blood of the orphaned child and to pass it among her family to fend off whatever stole the life of the mother.”

“What do you mean?” Lydia asked, horrified.

“It my John who did it,” Arway said. “He took a razor blade and cut the baby’s shoulder. That blade was then passed around the circle for each us to use.”

“Didn’t you know?” Lydia asked.

“No,” Arway responded quietly. “I didn’t know the Lord then, or that His power was stronger than our traditions. I had never heard of AIDS and didn’t know how it was passed around. I didn’t even know why my sister-in-law had died.” She sobbed. “I knew so little. If only we had known . . .”