SILENT STRUGGLE

At 68 years old, Dorcas Bolelang Kamanga is immobile and spends her days at home in Peleng Central.A few years ago, she could at least crawl around the house, but that is no longer possible. In fact, she used to use a walker to move around, but after an accident down a staircase, the doctor recommended a wheelchair.Her legs are swollen, with endless, unbearable pain. She applies several ointments - Zambuk, coarse salt, and Dettol - or anything that can give her temporary relief from the pain.The left leg is not in a good state. From the knee downwards, the discomfort is evident. The knee and ankle have almost disappeared under the swelling.The skin at the bottom of the leg is charred, due to “unexplained burning.” She goes through these mysterious burns every year.“Since most of my family members have been diagnosed with cancer, there was a point when I thought that I had cancer,” she explains.Always cheerful and ready to welcome visitors, life has not always been easy for her. In 1987, she developed an unexplained condition that attacked her leg. At the time, she was seven months pregnant.Today, that mystery condition has made her immobile. Medical officers suspect that she could be suffering from what is called Elephantiasis, but without a proper diagnosis, there’s no certainty.Elephantiasis is a type of ‘infection with parasites classified as nematodes (roundworms) of the family Filariodidea that are transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes.’Kamanga’s condition is monitored through regular medical checks conducted from the comfort of her living room. These include monitoring whether she takes her medication for High Blood.When old age pensioners submit documents every six months to prove they are still alive, Kamanga hosts social welfare officers at home.“Life is a struggle for me. Ke a boga,” she says.She also shudders at the prospect of what could happen if the condition is hereditary and is passed down to her children. “I do not want my children to suffer the same fate that I have suffered”.Adding to her woes is that her children do not have reliable jobs. Money is hard to come by.“I am still here because of God, my ancestors and my faith,” she says. She has had close calls with death, experiencing blackouts, but thanks to her spirituality, she survived.“You almost found me gone from this place,” she says with her usual cheerful humor.Born in 1957 in South Africa, her parents relocated to Lobatse when she was two years old. Her mother was a Motswana from Moshupa. When they relocated, her Malawian father worked for the Prisons as a Cook. Until 2010, when she was officially declared a citizen, she was considered a refugee.Area Member of Parliament, Kamal Jacobs, is aware of Kamanga and her struggles, and has taken a keen interest in her as part of his social responsibility initiatives.He says they plan to get her a specialised wheelchair.“She is a valued member of my constituency,” Jacobs vows

Explore

More

News

SILENT STRUGGLE