Disease Devastates Africans

Most North Americans are well aware of the HIV/AIDS epidemic that is ravaging Africa. In April, Bernie Pennings and Rev. Christo Heiberg of Word & Deed Canada went to South Africa to visit Masibambisane Community Development Corporation (MCDC) and see firsthand how Word and deed work together to alleviate suffering. Rev. Arthur Miskin, a medical doctor sent out as a missionary by the Burgessville, Ontario, Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation, and his wife Dr. Sonya Miskin introduced this project to Word & Deed for support consideration.

Our first visit is to Michael, a young man who three weeks earlier was so sick he could barely walk. A former cab driver and his family’s breadwinner, Michael received ARV (antiretroviral) treatments. Hannes calls him a living miracle. More than 99 percent of the people in a similar condition would have died. Yet Michael is up and walking, looking to us like an ordinary young man. The ARV treatments increase the appetite, which accounts for Michael’s weight gain. While increased appetite helps to stabilize the patient, it poses a problem for individuals who have trouble finding enough food or are who are too sick to work. For this reason food packets with fresh vegetables are distributed regularly to these families.

Our second visit is to a family who lost a husband and father of seven children the previous Saturday. In accordance with local customs, the mother is in bed going through the grieving process. The youngest children (three-month-old twins, a girl and boy) lie next to her. While it is clear that the twins also suffer from HIV/AIDS, they appear very alert and well-cared for. One of the twins had recently visited the hospital for a routine check-up of her condition.

Next we visit Mike, who has been sick and unable to work since November. Mike is feeling much better and was given permission to return to work. However, his employer informed Mike that he was no longer needed, despite his having worked for the employer for 27 years. Hannes advises Mike to lodge a complaint with the Department of Labour concerning his employer’s illegal actions. (Later Hannes explains to us that many workers do not understand their rights as employees, and their employers often take advantage of them.)

In further conversation with Mike and his wife, Hannes clearly explains the biblical approach to sexual purity, noting that sinful cultural practices are a major contributor to the spread of HIV/AIDS. Two years ago Mike’s first wife died from AIDS; his current wife still has not been tested for the HIV virus. Hannes urges her to be tested as soon as possible. After closing in prayer, we leave a food parcel with this couple.

On our next visit we meet Elizabeth and her two-year-old son. The boy runs in and out of the house while Marie, the home care worker who is visiting with us, goes in to see Elizabeth. Elizabeth is so weak she can hardly walk. But she is able to come out slowly and sit on a bench where Hannes and Marie speak with her. She was to have been tested in order to start the ARV treatment, but this has not been done because she doesn’t have the necessary identity document. To obtain the document she needs to get a letter from the school she attended (in place of the birth certificate she does not have) and then register with the government agency. Then she will be allowed to start the ARV treatments, which are provided free-of-charge by the government of South Africa.

But in her weakened condition, Elizabeth has done nothing to start the treatments. Elizabeth is not alone. Many others in Malawi are too weak to initiate ARV treatments. Hannes offers to take Elizabeth to the school on Monday to obtain her letter and then accompany her to the government agency to register.

In sharing with her the work of Jesus Christ, we discover that she does not own a Bible. Hannes leaves one with her as we close in prayer.

Our final visit is to an HIV-infected mother of seven children. She had suffered a stroke the previous week. The woman gets up, but is barely able to walk to the kitchen. Her son, who is looking for work, does his best to care for the other children, despite suffering from diabetes. We are able to speak with the children, who display a cheerfulness and optimism that makes us marvel. As we leave, Hannes tells us what seems so obvious—it will likely be only a short time until this family becomes another household with a child as its head.

This was but a brief glimpse at the work that is being done every day by the workers of Masibambisani Community Development Corporation. Their labor is very discouraging as they deal with one sad case after another. Pray that resources may be found to assist this clinic as many people afflicted with HIV/AIDS receive help and hope with Christian love.

Bernie Pennings is the executive director of Word & Deed Canada.