Sneak peak of my Swaziland article…
Rough copy of what I’ve written so far…Please let me know what you think:
By RACHAEL OSBORNE
Assistant News Editor
MANZINI, Swaziland — Mpile leaned against the tree trunk, using its rough bark as a scratching post to soothe the irritation that covered his bare back.
Nurse Jessie didn’t know his HIV status, but she soon discovered that since birth the dusty 4- or 5-year-old had been living with severe ringworm, a bumpy skin irritation that caused his hair to grow in patches. He likely contracted the condition repeatedly through the soil. She put her hand on his distended belly and felt worms wiggle about within.
Shyly the two exchanged siSwati through sweet whispers and Jessie handed him a medical evaluation form. He stared down at the sheet of paper as if he could read what it said.
One in 3 people are HIV positive here, and most refuse to get tested for fear that in a country crippled by AIDS they will fall victim to the disease. With the lowest recorded life expectancy in the world — just under 32 years old — an entire generation has disappeared, leaving a nation full of teens.
Looking into the crowd of children who surrounded us in the yard at Lutze-Lutze Mercy Centre, statistics I had only ever read about became clear and real. Unless a miracle happens, 1 out of every 5 of these kids will die in the next two or three years.
At that moment, under the shade of the tree, every expectation I had for our time in Swaziland left, and it was quickly replaced by an urgent call to action.
