By Claudina Lembe, World Vision Mozambique
The following are personal thoughts from Claudina Lembe, a World Vision staff member who lost her six-month old daughter to malaria in 2008. Now, she is more committed than ever to helping fight this deadly disease.
Claudia Lembe (shown here with her son, Precious), is a World Vision staff member who shares about the tragic loss of her six-month old daughter to malaria.
On May 24, 2008 I lost my beautiful baby girl, named Condoleezza, who was only six months old. It started with fevers at night. The next day, I took her to the hospital to be tested when she started to have diarrhea. The doctor told me it was a simple fever and gave me some medicine to give to my daughter.
Two days later, I was doing fieldwork in other district when Condoleezza began having fevers again and crying more than she had. I returned home that same day and took her to the hospital again. This time, the tests showed she had malaria, but the nurse said to me that it was not dangerous and would pass quickly.
They gave me medication, which I gave to her though she continued to have a very high fever after the first dose. So, I took her to the hospital again where she was tested again and then had to be hospitalized for treatment. I stayed there with her for two days before being released. During the first five days when we were home, she was in good heath, so I was surprised on the sixth day when she began to cry strongly and her body was very warm. Again, I took her to hospital where a nurse told me that the malaria had not passed. On that very same day that I took her to the hospital, my dear girl died. These days have been the most horrible of my life.
In December, 2010, I was blessed by the birth of my son whom I named “Precious.” I think now you understand why I gave him that name. I was so happy with my new baby, but I was still haunted by the pain of malaria. Thus, I began to panic when my son had a fever when he was around four months-old and I took him to the hospital for an evaluation. His tests showed he had signs of malaria and the nurse gave him medication. I made sure to stay in the hospital for days until they made sure that my baby did not have malaria. When I returned home, I made sure to use mosquito spray and mosquito nets.
When there are requests to report about malaria, I volunteer for the assignments because I see a way to help other families and other mothers and fathers who daily lose their children. During my fieldwork with families, I cry with them because I know the pain they feel when they told about losing someone,
Ultimately, what it takes to get out of this war with malaria? I always wonder if there is a specialty of learning mechanisms to combat this evil, to give me more and more energy in this fight. I am motivated to help the victims of malaria because I want to help contribute to the fight that World Vision is doing to diminish. The deaths caused by this sickness increase every day. I am certain that with the force of World Vision it will be possible to end malaria before it is too late.
