Manfred Luka

At the health centre, the staff said I wasn’t well. When they asked me if I had been tested for HIV and other diseases, I said no. They said I should have some tests so that they could know what was bothering me. I was found to have two conditions: I was HIV positive and had tuberculosis. I was told that I needed to be referred to the district hospital.

An ambulance took me to Nsanje District Hospital, where I stayed for almost two weeks. During that time, my health improved. The pain all over my body disappeared. I was discharged to go back to Chitomeni, where I fish. But after nearly nine days, my condition started to worsen again. Each time I tried to breathe, I struggled. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t walk. Even drinking a cup of water was a struggle. I was coughing a lot and I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t even lift my leg or walk.

I told my colleague, Joe, at the fishing dock: ‘Joe, I can’t breathe. When I was discharged, I was fine but now I can’t breathe. Please find a bicycle and take me to the health facility’.

It’s a long way to the health centre, almost two hours by bicycle and on foot.

At Ndamera, after assessments, an ambulance took me back to Nsanje District Hospital. Now that I’m here, I am feeling better. I am able to breathe and speak.

I’ve been here for three days. My health has improved. I am now able to wash my clothes. I can wash myself. Of course, I am not totally healed; I still struggle to breathe but what MSF is doing in collaboration with government is commendable.”

Soon after this interview Manfred Lukas’ condition deteriorated. In the beginning of November, he sadly passed away at Nsanje District Hospital.