Short lives

Have recently been informed of the deaths of two young people we know. One was a 6 year girl in Sanyang, she was one of the scouts there. On the Sunday she visited me in Tanji with some of the other Scouts, Monday she was sick and by Thursday she had passed away. Malaria! We went to visit to offer our condolences and were told that only last year her older brother dies from Malaria too. We have now decided to fundraise for mosquito nets for the families of the scouts in Sanyang as very few have these nets. It is only £5 for net so any donations would be gratefully received.

Today I went to Basori with some visitors and was told that the Alkalo's daughter had passed away this morning at the age of 16. She was a diabetic and also contracted TB. Too many children have such short lives here. The village and the family were so apologetic for not greeting us in the usual way with dancing, drumming and lots of noise. Still concerned about us despite their grief.