By Surihe Gaomas
RUNDU
A young Namibian girl, in the prime of her life, was dealt a double blow after a sugar daddy entered her life and shattered her dreams.
The girl is now infected with the HIV virus and has a three-year-old son to look after. She has since left school.
As her health deteriorates, the only hope for her is that the antiretroviral treatment she receives will prolong her life.
When New Era was invited by the Kavango Bridges of Hope to visit one of the settlements of Ndama in Rundu where she lives, 24-year-old Risto Hilda Kasiku opened her heart to this reporter. Nobody has ever made the time to listen to her story except for the home-based caregivers.
Sitting on the ground under a thorn tree, the tiny and frail-looking woman, despite her traumatic condition, smiled to welcome us to her poor surroundings.
About three metres from Kasiku was her aunt, Cornelia Shikongo. She was making vetkoekies at the fireplace – the only food for the day.
Sitting on the other side was Grandmother Jofilia Shikongo, drawing pictures in the sand for her three-year-old grandson, Lukas Kazumbo.
It was a hot Thursday morning, and the heat was unbearable for this family who do not have proper shelter over their heads. All of them, including Kasiku, together with three other children, huddle together in the small thatched roof hut, barely enough for all of them.
Telling her story, Kasiku said it all happened way back during her school days when a stylish-looking man lured her into having sexual intercourse in exchange for some “good promises”. The man had a car and money to spoil Kasiku. He would fetch her each day after school.
The relationship went on for a couple of days. But to her surprise, the man vanished without trace after some days. It was soon thereafter that she found she was pregnant.
The ‘good man’ was, however, nowhere to be found and she has to face the consequences of a pregnancy and the ordeal of knowing her HIV positive status alone.
“I tested HIV-positive in October 2006,” said the woman in a soft voice. “I’m now on ARV treatment for the last two months, but taking this medicine is difficult for me as I don’t have enough to eat,” said Kasiku whilst toying with a white piece of string she picked up from the ground.
Life has been very tough for Kasiku who grew up as an orphan. Her mother and father passed away a long time ago, leaving her to be raised by her aunt who, out of love and compassion, has cared for her all these years.
Cornelia Shikongo said being unemployed herself, it has never been easy for her to look after Kasiku, but she is trying her best to support her.
“I was married before my husband left me. That is when I decided to take her in when she was already six years old as her parents had died. I supported her through school right up until Grade 8, when she fell pregnant and became sick,” explained Shikongo, putting another spoonful of dough in the pot that was supported by three stones.
“My family supports me, and I love them dearly for that,” said Kasiku wiping away a tear with her floral skirt. “Life is very difficult for us because we are poor and don’t know where our next meal will come from,” she added, bravely saying that she had also accepted her sickness. When asked whether she still has hard feelings for the man who put her in this traumatic situation, Kasiku kept silent for a brief moment and then, shaking her head, replied “No.”
“I have forgiven him a long time ago as I don’t even know where he is today. Prayer and counselling have, however, made me strong and I thank Kavango Bridges of Hope for that.”
Kasiku was discovered through a house-to-house visit by caregivers of this organization who were asking if there were any sick people in the houses.
Holding Kasiku by her shoulder, Chairperson of Kavango Bridges of Hope, Rosvita Ndumba, said a lot of support and care are needed for people like Kasiku and many others in the same situation, because poverty makes the fight against HIV/Aids even worse.
“HIV-positive people are really suffering because they are poor, with no food, sometimes no water. They just have to struggle every day of their lives. We want this story to come out so that their struggle can also be heard,” added Ndumba.
Kasiku said: “I am willing to give my child to my aunt before the sickness overcomes me. The family of the father don’t even know the child, so he’s much better off with my aunt.” She wiped off another tear as she affectionately looked at her son, who was playing with sand close to her grandmother.
Besides not having enough to eat, water is also scarce for Kasiku and her family. Although this life-giving resource is there, one can only get it through payment.
“We buy water from the neighbours around here. Sometimes its one dollar or five dollars, depending on how much we have in our pockets, we really need help,” said the aunt.
Another dilemma for the family is that no one yet knows the status of the boy. They hope and pray, however, that he is healthy and will grow up to become a productive citizen.
Kasiku said the time has come for girls not to fall for “sweet promises” from Sugar Daddies.
“I want to encourage young schoolgirls that they have to be very careful, because men are there just to cheat them. If they see your beauty, they will take advantage of you,” said Kasiku.
At the end of the interview, she got up, took her son’s hand and walked off for a midday nap in her hut.