Yesterday I received news that a friend of mine in Rwanda passed away. Officially, Damascene died of heart failure. But in actuality, his death was not caused by his weak heart – or of the AIDS which ravaged his body. Damascene died because he was born into a life of chaos, inequality and crippling poverty.

When my girlfriend introduced me to Damascene, I could not believe my eyes. His arms and legs were reduced to nothing. His stomach was swollen as if he was 9 months pregnant – filled with fluid because his heart could not pump it properly through his system. Except for a trip home to celebrate his 26th Birthday arranged by my girlfriend, Kelly, it was clear that Damascene would never leave the hospital. Standing there for the first time with him, I began to feel dizzy and could barely stand. How could life be so cruel to this gentle, kind man?

Though he was plagued by one of the most dehumanizing of all diseases, AIDS, Damascene was fortunate to receive care and treatment at the Rwinkwavu District Hospital, which is supported by Partners in Health (PIH), Dr. Paul Farmer's Boston-based NGO. PIH operates under the philosophy that every patient deserves the right to be treated and to die in dignity – no matter how poor or sick. Extremely cost-effective, western-style care in the most resource-poor settings – from Rwanda to Haiti.

Through his illness – Kelly and many other staff at the Rwinkwavu District Hospital gave Damascene that which is most important in life: care, compassion, love, hope and a sense of dignity and self-worth. They ensured that he got the pain management, nutrition and support he needed. Kelly formed a strong bond with Damascene over the years, and would bring him and his brother (who dropped out of school to tend to him) to our house to escape the 3ft x 8ft hospital bed which had become his home. Sitting on the couch, eating cookies, drinking beer, and watching Kung-fu movies - she helped to give him back that which disease and poverty tried to take – his dignity.

For most, Damascene and the millions like him that die of AIDS, TB and waterborne illnesses are just sad statistics recorded in World Bank and UN reports. Too often, they are just numbers, indicators used to measure global and national progress (or regress) on a given issue. Their deaths are recorded – but their lives are rarely remembered. We must always remember the human lives which make up the numbers. We must always try to gain a visceral understanding of the terrible suffering which lies beneath if we are ever to be committed enough to bring about real change.

I will always remember Damascene - and on this lonely road in Holland – somewhere between Breda and Amsterdam – I remember and honor him.

To learn more about Partners in Health, visit www.pih.org

From Krimpen, Netherlands – happy trails.