When Malaria Threatens Sisterhood
Naserian
During the drought periods in northern Tanzania, Maasai pastoralists move their cattle to areas with better access to water and fresh pasture. However, weaker and older animals cannot travel long distances and struggle to keep up with the herd. In some families, the women take charge of these weaker animals, walking slower during the journey to accommodate them. This is how Naserian* and her sister-in-law ended up hundreds of miles away from home, in the forest, caring for the weak cattle.
“It is normal for us to take the old animals so they do not slow down the men and the other cattle. This time, I was with my sister-in-law and two women who are neighbors at home. We had left the children behind with our mother-in-law, who is too old to join us on such trips. We had been in the forest for two months when I started getting sick.”
At first, Naserian did not think much of it; she thought she was tired from all the daily walking they had to do. However, she was wrong and her condition deteriorated rapidly over the next three weeks.
“It started with a fever; I shivered despite being hot outside. Sometimes I would get very confused, not understanding my surroundings. Then the pain started; I was in pain all over my body. After a few days, I asked my sister-in-law to inform my husband that I was very sick.”
“I didn’t know what to do. I was crying so hard! Every year during the drought, we have made these kinds of trips and stayed for months in forests and never once did we fall sick. I did not understand why this was happening and was more stressed because we were in the middle of nowhere without access to transport or healthcare. Naserian and I don’t have mobile phones, but one of the other women does. I borrowed her phone to call home; sadly, there was no mobile network or connection. Understanding the urgency of the matter, I did something I have never done before; I pulled up my skirt and climbed a tree!”
Naserian’s Sister-In-Law
Naserian’s sister-in-law could call from the top of the tree. The connection was weak, but she got through to her brother-in-law and informed him that his wife was sick and they needed urgent help.
“I thought I was dreaming when I saw my husband. He carried me on his back and started walking. With no transportation where we were, it took us two days to get home. Once at home, the local clinic asked my husband to rush me to a big hospital quickly, or I would die.”
Naserian’s husband got a car that brought them to Karatu, not knowing what hospital they were going to. Once they arrived, he asked a stranger who said:
“There is only one place I can recommend, FAME.”
At FAME, Naserian was received promptly and admitted to the inpatient ward. She was diagnosed with cerebral malaria, a severe complication requiring immediate medical attention and hospitalization. Naserian was lucky to get to FAME in time. She was put on medication immediately.
“When I regained consciousness, I was in a hospital bed at FAME. I couldn’t get up; my head was so heavy! I was scared, but my sister-in-law was by my side. The doctor said I had malaria affecting my brain.”
“We had spent the last two months sleeping in the open forest by Lake Eyasi and I think this may have been where Naserian got malaria from.”
Naserian would end up spending two weeks at FAME.
“I would spend my days at her bedside crying! I was so sad. Naserian is my sister. We are married to brothers. We do everything together, including living in the same compound. Our children are more siblings than cousins. I could not imagine my life without her. Sometimes I would be in the nurses’ station in the inpatient ward and just cry and cry! The nurses would console and comfort me despite my being disruptive [laughs]! I think they saw how heartbroken I was and were kind to me.”
“The service at FAME was good. The nurses were always available and took great care of me and I am forever thankful to the stranger who directed us here. I am happy to be healthy and returning home to my children and as it’s raining now, the cattle have much to eat and I don’t have to return to the forest.”
*The patient's name has been changed to protect her privacy and permission was secured to share their story. The quotes have been translated from Maasai to English.