While in the Kunene Region where I was assigned to do a couple of stories last week, I was once again reminded to appreciate even the little things that I have been blessed with in life, considering that some people out there find it hard to survive.
As I was doing my job in Khorixas, I came across a man in that town’s informal settlement, who was paralysed by a stroke in 1977. The man, who has slurred speech, has lived with disability almost all his life.
Although he probably got to adjust and to a certain extent accepted his fate, the man – now in his fifties – has to live all by himself, as most of his family members – including his wife – died many years ago.
Being a disabled old man, I could only imagine how harsh a blow life has dealt him, as he related his story to me. Surely, it cannot be easy living with disability, let alone not having anyone to care for him.
Despite all these, life goes on for him. As he allowed himself to be vulnerable in my presence, allowing me to “invade his space” by sharing his story, the old man managed to smile and appreciate the little things in life.
He smiled ear to ear when I showed him a picture I took of him. “Oulik man” (cute man), he remarked with a smile and with hardly any teeth in the mouth. That alone warmed my heart because despite the daily struggles this man sees the best in himself and does not withhold his smile. Not everybody can do that.
In Opuwo, I was moved by the way the minority groups such as the Ovahimba and Ovatue live in modern-day Namibia. It is not the fact that they tightly hold onto their culture that amazed me. But, the fact that in this day and age there are still people from these minority groups who do not know how HIV is acquired.
A woman I interviewed for a story in Opuwo told me that although she knows that there is “ehinga” (AIDS), she does not know how it is acquired.
Her son, who seemed to have a slight idea of what HIV/AIDS is, remarked, “It apparently originated from that side of Angola.”
I could not help but feel sorry because it would be difficult for them to take HIV preventative measures if they do not even know that it exists. Eewa.