In July our watchman died. We had known Kondwani since 1980 when the Synod appointed him to keep an eye on our house. When we returned to Blantyre in 1997, Kondwani left the Synod to work full time with us. Those who have visited 'Canada House' know of whom I speak. Kondwani officially died of malaria, but everyone knew the underlying cause was HIV/AIDS. Malawians seldom mention AIDS but speak rather of 'our general disease' or 'the thinning disease.' Some years ago, Kondwani and his wife separated and eventually reunited a couple of years later. She died of 'the general disease' and so Kondwani's situation was not a surprise.
Linda and I were visiting Kondwani at the hospital one day. Because his condition was deteriorating, the nurses had moved him off his bed onto a mat sandwiched on the floor between two other beds which carried patients with a better chance of survival. The ward was chaotic with family members trying to administer food or water to the sick while determined charismatic preachers were shouting that the sick and wounded should repent so God could heal their bodies. We finally found Kondwani when Linda noticed his young wife with tear-filled eyes watching over him. On her back was a new born baby. Three weeks before Kondwani's death his wife gave birth to a lovely baby girl.
The lot of widows is seldom kind. Kondwani's wife will take her two young children to her home village some 50 kilometres away. There she will have no job and no means of support save the generosity of the extended family. What will happen to her? What future will the girls have? Because of our long-standing association with the family, these are questions we will somehow strive to answer.
The latest UN report indicates a lowering of the HIV infection rate in Southern Africa. In Malawi the rate is now 12 per cent. But this rate applies only to ages 14-49 and in urban areas the rates can go upwards of 30 per cent. Through exceptional international efforts, anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is widely available. However, only about one-third of the people who need the drugs are taking them. A huge problem is the lack of trained medical staff in rural areas. The nursing profession is one of the hardest hit by AIDS. Also, hundreds of Malawian nurses have been recruited to the UK where life is decidedly better.
Rev. Glenn Inglis and his wife Linda are working in Malawi thanks to International Ministries. His letter will continue in the Record for a few more months.
