By Anna Shilongo
AUSSENKEHR
The increasing morbidity and mortality induced by HIV/AIDS has inevitably threatened the productive capacity, food and livelihood security of the people of Aussenkehr.
“The pandemic has pushed the majority of the inhabitants into further impoverishment,” said a welfare officer at the town.
In this regard a number of residents were sent to South Africa for training that aims at promoting the use of gender-sensitive and participatory approaches in the design and implementation of strategies that can mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on the town.
Aussenkehr has a population of about 20 000 seasonal workers but only a quarter of that number is employed by farming companies.
Aussenkehr is one of Namibia’s rapidly growing towns which during harvesting season sees people flocking to it in the hope of finding employment.
Some people travel from as far as Katima Mulilo, Rundu and the Owambo north hoping to secure a job but to no avail.
“Once you come to Aussenkehr it is very difficult to return home. It’s better to stay until the next season to secure a job because transport is another problem and it’s costly to return home and come back again, “said one resident”.
As a result the majority of people are forced to earn a living by themselves and sometimes turn to anything for survival.
“People are sick in this town while others have long died. We are now faced with a number of challenges such as caring for orphans and relocating them back from where their parents originate,” said an officer.
Children are apparently just roaming around with no parents or means of survival. At the moment there are 60 orphans and vulnerable children at the town.
These children are said to be facing difficulties accessing welfare grants because they are not in possession of their deceased parents’ death certificates or so on.
This is a big challenge where parents die and are buried right away.
Consequently, when children want to apply for orphan grants they cannot prove that their parents died and they have to travel to as far as Keetmashoop or L???_?_’???_?’???_?