Can it Get Even Worse?
After we had a construction crew in place, and funding promised, Hanitra and Elson joined me in Antalaha to start major renovations. Towards the end of my stay in Antalaha, just when I thought I had seen it all, a new level of disbelief set in. Dr. Elson had been providing medical consultations and described one near-comatose man being carried to the dispensary "like a pig", swinging between two men holding his hands and feet. Due to overcrowding, he along with other inmates nearing death were kept in an unconverted outhouse that used to be the prison toilets. The prison warden asked if we would be willing to inspect this building and perhaps make some much needed infrastructure improvements.
Crossing a stinking sewer and entering the building, we were confronted with the epitome of subhuman existence. Men were literally put into old toilet stalls and left to die. Because the building lacked a secure door, by late afternoon they were lugged back to the main building and dumped into the suffocating men's cell to spend the night. If they made it through until morning,the process was repeated. We named the place "FV", Faty Velona - The Living Dead.
The next day Hanitra and Elson donated 100 kg of rice to those who were severely malnourished. It was like watching a zombie movie, skeletons lining up in a row to collect their packet of rice. Some couldn't even walk by themselves they were so weak. Karim shook his head,
"Tamar, one has to take care emotionally looking at this kind of stuff. When I first came I was in shock and said to myself, "What IS this horror? Then I realized that I had to gain some distance in order to survive this job and try and make changes."
“Right”, I thought. “This guy has the softest of hearts.”
By this time, it was evident that this building needed to be drastically altered to bring it up to at least a barely acceptable level. Francel calculated the leftover building materials into his estimate which kept the costs down. The wardens engaged prisoners to do the demolition work, and it was evident that it gave them a sense of purpose and worth.
By the end of two weeks, the stalls had been razed, new flooring put in, bars fixed around the perimeter for air circulation, and a strong iron door made to order and installed. No longer will the men be dragged into the suffocating men's chambers at night. Next year we'll need bunks and mattresses, but for now, they will be at least be allowed to die with a modicum of dignity.
