Okahandja Home Based Care

Yesterday, as part of our training we went
to see the Okahandja Home Based Care
facilities. It is part of becoming aware of
the different types of services that exist in
certain areas of Nambia.
The lady on the right in the picture is the founder
of such facility. It has been in existence since
2005.
Okahandja Home Based Service works with HIV
and AIDS patients and it is actually on a volunteer
basis. They service approximately 145 people at
the moment and feel that they have a capability
to function with up to 200. If they had sufficient
funds.
Their services include a soup kitchen that has only
enough resources (through handouts and some grant
money) to provide a noon time meal on Monday,
Wednesdays and Fridays. It is necessary for people
taking their Anti-Retro Virals to eat something or
they will feel sick.
The Service also goes out to the AIDS patients
that are incapable of getting out of bed.
They also take people to their hospital visits if
they in need of help to walk ... etc.
HIV/AIDS education is also part of their activities.
As is convincing people who are suspected of having
HIV/AIDS to go for testing. Many don't want to go
because they don't want to know or because
of the stigma that comes with having HIV/AIDS.
As I mentioned, it is done on a voluntary basis
and a few of the staff also have HIV.
I asked the lady (again, in the picture on the right)
why she does what she does without any pay.
She said that she is doing it because her 3 older
sisters died from AIDS and that she wanted to
do something about it.
I also asked her if she got tired at times from
working with no pay and in an emotionally
difficult situation day in and day out.
She mentioned that she did get tired. She would
also hear it from her family about going out and
working for free when the family didn't have
enough money to pay their electric and water bill
for the month.
But she did say that despite the economic
hardships she faces, there is some form of
divine intervention. Either someone or something
seems to come just in time and with just
enough to keep them functioning.
So far, during my limited time in Namibia,
I would have to say that she is my Hero.