Natanaeli’s feet are covered by purple skin cells. It’s an AIDS-related cancer that has left him unable to walk. The growths don’t cause pain because they’re made of dead tissue. However the raw fuzzy sore on the tip of his big toe causes excruciating pain. He also has another AIDS-related cancer that gave the skin on his arms and legs a mottled appearance. Natanaeli’s wife, Agnes, is also infected. But she’s able to take care of him. His son is a home-based care volunteer.

Winstone is an 8-year-old, pictured here in Mwika with his grandmother. His grandmother, a widow, is the only relative who was willing to take care of him. In this picture a large bedsore was being dressed by Thomas, an Imara-trained home-based care volunteer. Winstone died with AIDS in January, 5 days after this photo was taken. Volunteers couldn’t keep the boy from dying, but they helped him die in comfort with painkillers and at the hospital. His relatives didn’t want him to go to the hospital because they thought it was a waste if he’s just dying, and they were afraid to be near him and contract the disease.