Last week on home-based care in Masoyi, South Africa I met a lady named Helena. She was about 50 and dying of AIDS. I've never seen anyone so skinny. Just bones. A neighbour lady would check in on her everyday—but this neighbour was an old granny who was looking after 8 orphans (some were her own grandkids, some were from the community). 8 little kids and a dying neighbour.

We got to wash this lady, and talk and sing with her. She wanted us to sing the South African national anthem—I'm afraid I wasn't much help. We washed all her clothes and blankets—African style, in the river. I was so happy to be there, to help this dear woman who was suffering so much. Helena died a few days later, but we were able to get her into a hospice for her remaining days so she could die comfortably.

Driving home from Helena’s that day we passed three women who were returning from the clinic. One of the women was carrying her friend on her back. The woman being carried was about 30: she was dying of AIDS, had an 8-month old baby, and could barely walk. Her friend was carrying her down a huge hill. On her back. A woman carrying another woman.

I am shocked by what African women have to go through. Sometimes people are taken to the hospital in wheelbarrows. There is so much hurt here, it can be overwhelming. But I’ve realized we can do small things. We were able to comfort a dying woman, and we were able to drive those two ladies to their home. We can always do something.

Laura Eliason is a volunteer nurse from Canada currently serving with Rubatano Home-Based Care in Mozambique through the Footprints program.