There's this lady who has been living with my landlady for a while now. She looks very sick and fragile. I heard she's the daughter of my landlady's late brother, and that her mother brought her to her father's relatives because she was tired of taking care of her. Some people have been saying she's dying of AIDS, but I’m not even sure she has been taken to a clinic for proper diagnosis.
People just assume that because she looks extremely thin and weak, it must be HIV. You know how some people still associate HIV and AIDS with anyone who looks very sick. My landlady is a nice person, but it doesn’t seem like she’s doing much for this lady beyond feeding her and waiting for whatever happens. The girl can’t be more than 32. I’ve been thinking seriously about taking her to a hospital myself not the clinic I use, but another government hospital so she can be properly examined and tested.
The truth is, it could be HIV, but it could also be something completely different. Many illnesses can make someone look emaciated, and nobody should be labelled based on appearance alone. And even if it turns out to be HIV, that doesn’t mean it’s the end. I’ve seen people who were in worse condition, got diagnosed, started treatment and bounced back. One woman at the clinic once showed me her “before” picture she was just skin and bones yet after treatment she looked healthy and strong.
This is why people shouldn’t wait until they are extremely sick before seeking medical attention. Early diagnosis gives a much better chance of recovery. Unfortunately, many still believe HIV means death. It doesn’t. With proper treatment, people living with HIV can live long, healthy lives. So back to this young woman… I don’t know whether to ask Mama for permission and offer to take her to the hospital.
Part of me worries about getting involved in a family matter that isn’t mine. But another part keeps thinking: what if she’s truly dying and nobody is doing anything? It’s all hearsay but nobody knows her real status. She needs proper medical assessment. Maybe it’s HIV. Maybe tuberculosis. Maybe another infection. Maybe something entirely different. Now I’m torn between minding my business and doing what feels right.
Would it be wrong to approach Mama, explain my concerns and offer to take the lady to a government hospital for testing and treatment? I don’t want to overstep my boundaries but at the same time, I keep thinking: What if this is one person I could have helped, but I chose to look away?
