A Long Illness

Just got word yesterday that Jacob, one of Elle’s Caprivian assistants, is in a critical condition with what is euphemistically called in this part of the world - ‘a long illness’. In other words full blown AIDS. Three weeks ago, we drove a gravely ill Jacob to the hospital in Katima, suffering from what was believed to be a bad case of the flu. After being prescribed antibiotics for a lung infection and some paracetamol to bring down his fever, he was dispatched the same day, looking much improved. However, according to a friend of his, he has since relapsed and is now seriously ill with little prospect of recovery.

Jacob, who recently married and admits to at least one mistress, is it seems yet another chain link in this dreadful disease which continues to ravage this part of the world where it’s estimated that at least 15 per cent of the population are HIV positive. Fortunately, unlike it’s neighbour South Africa, Namibia has introduced a comprehensive HIV treatment programme, which freely dispenses antiretroviral drugs to those diagnosed with HIV.

Last year, the government’s Ministry of Health and Social Services also introduced its first ever National HIV Testing Day (now and annual May public holiday) in which members of the public are offered free HIV tests and counselling at designated clinics and mobile testing units throughout the country.

As an incentive, people who participate have their medical ID numbers automatically entered into a national lottery with the chance to win prizes. Since its introduction, National HIV Testing Day has proven very popular, with people queuing round the block all day to be tested. Despite, its apparent success, I can’t help feeling this is a rather cruel lottery, where the chances of you being tested positively for HIV are significantly higher than winning a holiday for two in the Algarve.