In an earlier blog I wrote about my visit to Jennipher's village and in this blog I have to report that two days ago Jennipher was buried in the village after dying in a car accident last Wednesday.
I am still finding it hard to believe that Jennipher, who survived many health crises over the years was taken so suddenly in this way.
I was at Slimbridge with my wife Dilys when I heard the terrible news. I had spoken to Jennipher the day before because she was preparing for World AIDs day on December 1st. She told me that I had forgotten her birthday – unfortunately I don't think she had a chance to spend her present. However since she died on my birthday, I will never forget the day of her death.
I first met Jennipher in 2004 when she was just starting treatment for AIDs. She had agreed to be open with her status and to encourage others to get tested and, where necessay, start treatment. This became her life's mission and she fought very hard for her clients.
Jennipher introduced me to many of the support groups she helped establish. She helped them access support from NGOs or the Government and made a huge difference to the lives of many. Some would not be alive today without Jennipher. She taught me, through engagement with her groups, to understand better what poverty looks like. When I heard a headmen say that they had decided not to get tested for AIDs because he knew that they could not find money to get to a clinic to collect the drugs and when ladies said they literally hadn't got enough energy to plant maize seed without extra food, I started to understand the reality of poverty.
For people living this sort of life the idea that they must contribute in order to obtain aid makes no sense. Without external help these people would continue in extreme poverty. Jennipher enabled me to help with a payment for transport or to provide the community contribution for a project. In this way a hundred pounds or two could become thousands and some of the poorest peope were able to have a borehole or maize and fertiliser, pigs, chickens, goats etc. and have a chance at least to have food for a while.
Jennipher was a very generous person taking into her home many orphaned children. I will always remember once, when she was talking to me, she told me that she had picked up a client with her bicycle-ambulance. The lady was in the final stages of pregnancy and she gave birth before reaching the clinic, she also died on the journey. Jennipher asked me what she should do. Of course I had no idea. She said that she was willing to look after the child at her home, but couldn't afford dried milk for the few months until the baby could take porridge. I was happy to be given the privilege of paying for a little milk and giving the child the opportunity of a resonable life. Jennipher brought up this little boy. He is now 10 years old and a great joy to know – I hope that along with the other children he will be looked after in the future, now that Jennipher is no longer around to support them. Jennipher's family is like an extension of my family and although I will do my best to continue to provide support the children it now now become more challenging.
In 2014 Jennipher was eventually granted a visa to visit the UK. She relished every moment, embracing all the new experiences, from double decker buses to the underground. She enjoyed visiting London – including Buckingham Palace, which she remembered when she watched the Queen's funeral in September. She found paddling in the sea a step too far, but bravely walked over the Millenium Bridge. She was pleased to be taken around a Leonard Cheshire Home by one of the residents in an electric wheelchair – something she had not seen before. She even visited Slimbridge and remarked about it during my past visit.
There is no doubt that Jennipher was a one-off. People who have encountered her will invariably remember her! In the early days of our friendship Jennipher was regarded by many as a great annoyance and irritation. If she wanted help for someone she didn't give up easily! I remember one day at the hospital a doctor asked me if Jennipher was annoying me. I responded “no, she is my friend”. In future years Jennipher was looked up to as a pillar of society and she was welcomed. For the past few years she was given a small salary for the work she did in the community. She has spoken on the local radio station, has been invited to talk in other parts of the Country and even invited to speak in neighbouring countries allowing her to travel quite widely.
I am proud to have known Jennipher and like to think that our partnership enabled us to do much more together than we could possibly have achieved independently.
Jennipher was a very special friend and I will miss her enormously. May she rest in peace.
With love and prayers,
Chris
