Malaria

Our close friends from Xai-Xai are staying with us a couple of days. They had a couple on a short-term trip who flew out of Maputo this morning, but the bad news is that our friend Jason has malaria. It's his first time since arriving here about five years ago. Then this morning, their young son began to have problems, so after the airport run this morning, we took him to be tested and yes, he also has malaria. So, we spent the next couple of hours running from pharmacy to pharmacy trying to find the medicine. They would have been infected about three weeks ago and they are retracing their steps to think about where they might have been exposed.

As it turns out, there is a severe shortage of malaria medicine right now. The street story is that the big countries who provide aide to Mozambique have been witholding payment over concerns with their own economies and trying to hold Mozambique accountable for corruption issues, but who knows what the truth really is. Because of this, no one has money to stock hospitals and clinics with Malaria medicine although I find that hard to believe as we were visiting non-governmental pharmacies. Anyway, the common sentiment is blaming those countries with shortage of Malaria meds.

We finally found some at our fifth or sixth pharmacy and came home and mixed it up but the little tike wouldn't take the medicine well and threw up what he took - which is bad because he must take it - it is only once a day for three days but it is crucial. So now, Ann and mom and the little guy are headed back to the clinic to see what can be done. Since both Ann and mom are nurses, he is in good hands. So, we will see what transpires. I'm staying here to watch over the dad, who has turned the corner and is doing better now as the medicine takes hold. In both cases the malaria was caught very early so with treatment and God's blessing, this should pass quickly.

We are extremely fond of this couple and really love them like they were our own kids. They are solid and have an amazing ministry going on and we always enjoy being with them so very much. We have gone through alot of the same adjustment issues together and we very much respect their opinion on things.

So pray with us that this scourge of a disease that causes so much pain and suffering would pass from our friends quickly.

As an aside, the car is starting again - I was able to get the starter fixed so we aren't pushing it everytime we want to start it. The air con is another issue - he refilled it with extra dye and freon and we have air again but he couldn't find the leak. He wants to try one more time with the dye and then it will be a matter of removing the entire dashboard and replacing things under the dash. It's always something with these vehicles, but it is a 1998 with tons of miles and it has been used hard. So, we have to just work through these things...we are very thankful to have it and it took us in and out of some tough places on our recent trip with great ease.

I think I'll go spray the bed room with "DOOM". Isn't that a great name for an insecticide!

Blessings.

Dave (& Ann)

"According to the National Survey on the Causes of Mortality in Mozambique (INCAM), published on Wednesday in Maputo by the National Statistics Institute (INE), 29 per cent of all deaths are caused by malaria, and 27 per cent by HIV/AIDS." (March 24, 2010)