Last November our trustees visited Ayana with HE Nurse Kalkidan. She is a 40 year old female patient with HIV and severely reduced mobility due to a presumed toxoplasmosis infection which damaged her nervous system 21 years ago.

She was married to a policeman and has one daughter. Following domestic violence she became divorced and has been bedridden due to her damaged nervous system for the past 21 years. Her sister brought up her daughter. Ayana was referred to Hospice Ethiopia by a Community Volunteer Worker. On the first visit the nurse found Ayana lived alone and was severely depressed and suicidal. Her 24 year old daughter visits her fortnightly to wash her.

Hospice Ethiopia has arranged for Ayana to receive a monthly grant from the Tewolde Medhane fund which allows her to pay for a maid to prepare her food and be a companion to her. She lives in her parent’s house, but her sister wants her to move out so that the house can be sold and the money divided between them. This is a cause of great anxiety to her.

Nurse Kalkidan organised the prescriptions for several medications: Anti-retroviral medication, amitriptyline for neuropathic pain, co-tramoxazole, and Baclofen. Kalkidan also issued some antacid oral liquid as Ayana had a new complaint of abdominal distension and indigestion. Despite being bed-bound for 21 years her skin and nutrition were good. She is continent and her bowels are open daily.

Ayana told Nurse Kalkidan that she felt she was only alive today due to Hospice Ethiopia’s regular visits to her.