Phone call

Sheba got a call yesterday evening.

She often does. Our patients know our number and call at various times for various reasons.

This call was from a young cousin of an 8 year old girl and a 10 year old boy.

The 10 year old cousin brother has HIV. Both parents have died. The children are being looked after by their widower Grandfather.

This girl called up to know if one of our JSK staff could take her cousin brother for his monthly visit to Sion Hospital on Saturday - to get his Anti-retroviral medicines.

Her uncle needs to be admitted to hospital - he is an alcoholic and her grandfather is the only person who can be with him.

"Its very important that my brother takes his medicine" this girl told Sheba.

The sound of the voice was that of a young girl - the depth came from the age which comes from suffering.

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Post script:

We got a call late this afternoon. Her uncle has died. Alcohol did him in. His father now has lost another son - to add to his son and daughter-in-law who died of AIDS.