ONGWEDIVA – In the scorching heat, Simon Paulus who rolls his body to get to where he wants, was shouting, and moving towards the main entrance of his homestead, directing this journalist to where he was.
The heat was at 27 degrees Celsius in Omatangela village of Ohangwena where New Era visited this 65-year-old.
Paulus contracted polio at the age of 14, which robbed him of mobility, including the use of his limbs.
According to the World Health Organisation, polio is a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus. The virus spreads from person to person and can infect a person’s spinal cord, causing paralysis.
This elderly man lives under unbearable conditions and his traditional house sums it all up. Apart from the smell, his bedding is dirty and he sleeps on the floor.
“I do not wish my life on anyone, not even on my worst enemy. My life is unbelievable but it is real.
“I once shared a room with a snake in my hut, for two consecutive days. Luckily it was just on the floor and I was on the bed. I observed it moving around my room during the day and I could hear it breath during the night. I could not move or sleep for those two days,” he narrated.
He said he could not seek assistance from neighbours as getting out of the room was out of question. He also did not have a mobile phone at the time. Paulus said one of the children from the neighbours saved his life when he came to check up on him after two days.
“The boy immediately alerted other neighbours and the snake was killed,” he said.
He stated that his life became hard when he lost his mother two years ago.
“I have no one to assist me. I employ caregivers but they don’t last because of my situation. Some are complaining that the N$600 I pay them from my pension is not enough,” said Paulus.
He does not have a toilet and because of his lack of mobility, he is forced to use plastic bags when nature calls. Such plastic bags would be discarded by caregivers. But most of the time he has no caregiver and this forces him to be surrounded by plastic bags of faeces until help comes.
He added that it could be one of the reasons caregivers do not last.
‘’My pension is not enough to buy a wheelchair or build myself a decent toilet. I also pay people to work my crop field since I cannot do it on my own,” said Paulus.
He is appealing to good Samaritans to assist him with a decent toilet, wheelchair, and food.
Anna Kanana, Paulus’ neighbour said the elderly man is living a very difficult life.
“If neighbours did not send him food to eat that day, he will go to bed with an empty stomach. A caregiver that stays with him can go to cucashops the whole day without cooking and she would only return when she, herself is hungry,” said Kanana.
She said Paulus’ water has been disconnected due to arrears.
“He really needs help, especially a toilet, wheelchair, and water,” Kanana added.
Attempts to obtain comments from the Ongenga constituency councillor proved futile.
-vkaapanda@nepc.com.na