New Era Newspaper

New Era Epaper
Icon Collap
...
Home / Covid survivor encourages compliance  …‘this disease  is dangerous’

Covid survivor encourages compliance  …‘this disease  is dangerous’

2021-09-24  Festus Hamalwa

Covid survivor encourages compliance  …‘this disease  is dangerous’

A survivor of Covid-19 has appealed to Namibians to trust the authorities and comply with the regulations to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Eva Elago (51) says her ordeal gave her a newfound appreciation for health workers, that she understands why regulations have been instituted because “ this disease is very dangerous”.

“Let us wear our masks, and wash our hands regularly to stop the spread of Covid-19 among us,” she urged.

Elago, who spent the last two months in the Ondangwa Private Hospital as one of Namibia’s over 127 000 positive cases, said: “I never knew I will be a survivor to this disease because I was in a bad state. I stayed in hospital for a very long time, and I was on the ventilators.” 

When New Era visited Elago in hospital on Wednesday, she was being discharged from hospital after two months of battling the ailment.

She tested positive for Covid-19 on 19 July and was unable to breathe and speak.

“When I noticed that I have signs of Covid-19, I went to my private doctor at Ondangwa – and he told me I have corona. I feared I would die but my husband took me to Ondangwa Private Hospital so that I can be taken care of by health workers,” said Elago.

Namibia has lost 3 192 people (by 21 September) to Covid-19.

The Helao Nafidi Town Council finance department manager said she hoped and believed she will get well – even though the thought of dying from the disease was disturbing her. 

While she was in hospital, she lost two relatives to Covid-19 but she did not lose hope and continued to pray for recovery.  “Covid-19 is real, and I was just on the ventilators because I could not breathe on my  own. Sometimes, I was unable to eat because my heart was weak,” she said.

“I’m grateful for my family, friends and all those who stayed with me during my worse time when I was suffering from Covid-19,” said Elago.

She said she is also thankful  to all Ondangwa Private Hospital workers for taking care of her from the first day she got hospitalised.

“People should have hope and believe when they are sick because God is powerful and he can do everything,” she said.

Elago was discharged on Wednesday after her results came out negative, and she went home to Oshitutuma in the Oshikoto region. 

Even though she was discharged, she will continue using a ventilator to help her breath until she recovers fully and can return to her normal life.

-fhamalwa@nepc.com.na


2021-09-24  Festus Hamalwa

Share on social media