Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Cresent Societies - 18 September 2002
Marietjie Naude in Eenhana, Namibia
Her normal life was suddenly disrupted when she had to flee from her family because of physical abuse and threats from her husband that he would kill her. Meme Ndiapo was experiencing tremendous headaches and neck pain.
For a couple of months she had to move from one family member to another to ensure a roof over her head and something to eat. After an accident she was admitted to hospital where she was diagnosed with tuberculosis.
Her last refuge after she was released from hospital was to go and live with her mother in a nearby village. Her mother would not even allow her to go to the kitchen because she was afraid that she would transmit the tuberculosis virus to the rest of the people living in the house.
The Namibia Red Cross picked up Meme's case when she moved to another relative in Eenhana where she fell seriously ill. She was referred to the Eenhana state hospital for treatment and she also attended counselling at the Red Cross regional office in Eenhana. Here, Meme was told that she was HIV-positive.
She took her sister in her confidence and told her about her HIV status. Due to the behaviour of her family, she could not tell them that she was sick. Meme received regular visits from the Namibia Red Cross but very soon found herself on the street, once again, with nowhere to stay and not in a physical position to work.
She went back to the hospital because that was the only place where she felt safe. The hospital, however, could not admit her as a patient, but allowed her to sleep under a shed roof on a wooden bench on the hospital grounds.
Her sister in-law one day found her sleeping on the bench at the hospital and took her home. But once Meme told her that she was HIV-positive, her sister-in-law threw her out.
The Namibia Red Cross approached the social worker in Eenhana district hospital and together they asked for assistance from the district hospital supervisor.
Meme Ndiapo is now living officially on the hospital grounds, receiving one cooked meal per day from the hospital and regular visits and counselling from the Namibia Red Cross. Because of stigma and discrimination she cannot go back to her family or friends and may be doomed to the hospital grounds for the rest of her life.
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