Maria grew up in the village called Onandjamba
in Okalongo constituency. Her manners were very scarce, especially in modern
women. She had good manners. After grade 12, Maria went to further her studies
at the International University of Management where she obtained her Bachelor Degree in Accounting and Finance.
She graduated and got employed by a private successful company called ESM CC. She
modernized her mother’s house, with her first salary, and continued supporting her family in
many ways.
In her village, there was a well-mannered man known as Nakale. He fell in love with Maria but
he was afraid to tell her. Nakale was a
Communication Officer at Telecom Namibia.
He decided to go see and meet Maria’s parents. Maria was also in love
with Nakale but she hid her feelings because,
in Oshiwambo culture, women do not propose or suggest love affairs. Nakale’s
and Maria parents were very understanding,
they accepted him to be their son in-law. They got
married. They were happily enjoying their new marriage. They prayed to God to
give them smart children.
In 6 months’ time, Maria fell pregnant twins – Cecilia and Uugwanga.
Nakale, her husband came and he
was tested for HIV. The doctor told Nakale that they were not in a discordant
relationship because they are both HIV positive. Nakale results were positive.
They were provided with a good lengthy and
productive counseling by a highly
qualified social worker. They accepted their results and decided to move on
with their lives. It was a bit difficult for them because there was no HIV treatment (ARVs) that time in
Namibia.
In 1998, both Maria
and Nakale were so happy to receive their blessings in their house. She gave
birth to happy twins – Cecilia and
Uugwanga. Although they were born with HIV, the twins grew up happily with
other children in their village. It was not easy for these parents to disclose to
their children. They had been telling their children that they were born with
diabetes.
Around 2004, treatment for HIV
management came into Namibia. Maria and Nakale had been giving ARVs to their
grown twins with false instructions. Twins were told to adhere to their
diabetes’ treatment but in fact, pills
were ARVs.
Cecilia was in grade 8, while Uugwanga was in
grade 7. Uugwanga started schooling late because he was admitted to the hospital when they were in grade one.
That affected his performance and failed.
For 12 months, they (children) have been doubting the
medicines they were taking. They wanted to understand their treatment but their
parents were dodging such discussion. Cecilia,
by birth, was a very smart girl.
One day Cecilia, stole her ARVs’ container from the
house and went with it to school. In a Computer studies’ lesson, she went on
google. She exactly entered the name of her treatment on the container on a
google search box. The search results gave the answer she was looking for, she
discovered the truth that the treatment was for HIV – ARVs. She fell on the
ground crying and shouting. Other learners in her class were strongly shocked
when they saw Cecilia crying. Her class
teacher rushed to rescue Cecilia. The teacher noticed that the same container
in Cecilia's hands was the same as that
on the computer’s monitor.
The teacher was very
knowledgeable in offering counseling
sessions. She did not say many things in the class, she called Cecilia to the office.
Cecilia was
very resistant to talk to her teacher. She even told the teacher that she hates
her parents to death because they had hid the truth from her and the brother. The teachers called in a professional counselor in
their counseling session. Both Uugwanga
and Cecilia refused to go back home.
The relationship
between the twins and their parents was almost came to an end but the counselors handled the situation well. They
have used everything they could to rebuild the relationship between the four.
Cecilia and
Uugwanga accepted their health conditions and started adhering well to their
treatment. Today, they are still alive and living positively with HIV. As a
result of good adherence, their viral load is undetectable because they are now
living with correct information about their HIV status. Now they know the
truth- the pills they take is not for diabetes but for HIV management.
Very inspiring.. We need to establish good relationships with our children.
ReplyDelete