Mom of 5 lives in unbearable conditions
Health struggles amid suffering
The unemployed mother of five has exhausted all her options and has turned to God to help her family.
Andjelina Ndapwaoyita (39), a mother of five from Uupindi informal settlement in Oshakati, has been sleeping on the floor of a ramshackle dwelling with her children for the past four months after she found herself with nowhere to stay.
According to Ndapwaoyita, she used to rent a shack, but since becoming unemployed, she can no longer afford to pay rent.
“I went to look for piece of land here in the oshana, but I cannot afford the material to construct a shack,” she said.
She narrated that she and her children are suffering and cannot afford basic needs on a daily basis.
“We get water from a dam nearby which is not healthy for human consumption. We have no choice, so we sometimes boil it,” she said.
Chest pains
When Namibian Sun visited Ndapwaoyita, she was weaving a traditional basket she planned to sell to buy food for her children.
The mother of five said she suffers from chest pains, which requires her to stay close to a hospital.
“I get serious chest pains at night, which sometimes forces me to walk to the hospital at 01:00. Until today, doctors do not know what causes the pain.”
She added that they can go days without eating because she cannot afford food. Two of her children sell wares they buy from the supermarket on the street, and they use the little profit they make to buy food.
An emotional Ndapwaoyita narrated that her extended family has deserted her and while she has pleaded for assistance from them, they do not want to help.
“I have siblings as well as my mother and I asked them to help me and my children, but they all chased me away. But I know God will help me,” she said.
Sad
Oshana Region governor Elia Irimari described Ndapwaoyita’s struggles as sad, but added that there are many people in the region in the same situation.
“It is a phenomena in the region. I will sit down with management to find amicable solutions,” he said.
The governor added that a team will be sent out in the region to assess individuals who are in the same situation.
“I will go and assess the area myself, and see how we can assist her in terms of building materials; however, we have constraints as our budget is depleted.”
According to Ndapwaoyita, she used to rent a shack, but since becoming unemployed, she can no longer afford to pay rent.
“I went to look for piece of land here in the oshana, but I cannot afford the material to construct a shack,” she said.
She narrated that she and her children are suffering and cannot afford basic needs on a daily basis.
“We get water from a dam nearby which is not healthy for human consumption. We have no choice, so we sometimes boil it,” she said.
Chest pains
When Namibian Sun visited Ndapwaoyita, she was weaving a traditional basket she planned to sell to buy food for her children.
The mother of five said she suffers from chest pains, which requires her to stay close to a hospital.
“I get serious chest pains at night, which sometimes forces me to walk to the hospital at 01:00. Until today, doctors do not know what causes the pain.”
She added that they can go days without eating because she cannot afford food. Two of her children sell wares they buy from the supermarket on the street, and they use the little profit they make to buy food.
An emotional Ndapwaoyita narrated that her extended family has deserted her and while she has pleaded for assistance from them, they do not want to help.
“I have siblings as well as my mother and I asked them to help me and my children, but they all chased me away. But I know God will help me,” she said.
Sad
Oshana Region governor Elia Irimari described Ndapwaoyita’s struggles as sad, but added that there are many people in the region in the same situation.
“It is a phenomena in the region. I will sit down with management to find amicable solutions,” he said.
The governor added that a team will be sent out in the region to assess individuals who are in the same situation.
“I will go and assess the area myself, and see how we can assist her in terms of building materials; however, we have constraints as our budget is depleted.”
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