I first worked in Angola during its civil war, and encountered all the injuries and disease of poverty one can possibly imagine: gun shots, land mines, measles, malaria, typhoid fever. What I did not see was HIV disease. While the rest of Africa was being ravaged by HIV, Angola was spared – largely because no one from the neighboring nations had any reason or courage to travel into Angola. But now that peace has come, so has commerce and tourism, and HIV.For several days I’ve been caring for Paula, a young woman with TB infection of her lungs. Her vomiting has been constant, and malnutrition worsening day by day. Her arms and legs are literally skin and bones. I’m treating her with TB medications and IV fluids, but she’s just not getting better.
This morning I tested Paula for HIV, and her positive result helps explain why Paula continues to decline. Some in the US are lured into thinking that we’re overcoming this disease – but it’s true only of wealthier nations. Here the epidemic continues explosive. Indeed life in Angola is far better than during the war, but HIV reminds me that both peace has its costs, and peace also allows us to effectively mobilize again this and the other heartbreaking diseases of poverty!