Submitted by Guest on Wed, 2014-08-06 12:50
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- STORIES FROM MAAI MAHIU, KENYA -
Teresiah Wanjiku Mungai, GAPA Member and Health Advocate
Teresiah is a lively member of our Thayu GAPA (Grandparents Against Poverty & HIV/AIDS) group from Maai Mahiu. Having faced many challenges throughout her life she has channeled her experiences and strength to become a pillar of support for the Thayu group. She shares her tribulations openly, always incorporates humor that puts others at ease and provides insight that helps others overcome their own challenges. She is a mother to 7 sons and 6 daughters, though she has lost 3 of her daughters to HIV/AIDS and now cares for her orphaned grandchildren.
Teresiah, The Survivor
In 2005, after a year and a half fight, rectal cancer took her husband's life. That year and a half was valuable time spent with her husband when she could afford to visit, but it also meant hefty bills that she now faced alone. While in the process of paying off her debt, the inter-tribal clashes began in Kigecha (her hometown) between the Maasai and the Kikuyu communities over land ownership. Her cattle were taken, household assets burned to ashes, important documents, deeds and titles destroyed and lives threatened. So she fled to Maai Mahiu.
Grandma started life afresh in her new hometown. Teresiah struggled to secure a plot from the local administration offices and put up a temporary structure. She began renting land to provide for her family, always making sure to involve all of the children in her work so as to teach them the life skills they now looked to her to learn.
Teresiah joined a local self-help group with a weekly contribution of 25 shillings. The group started a tree nursery together, selling the young plants to the forester responsible for afforestation interventions within the Kijabe catchment area. The group was rewarded with access to a water pipeline from the forest and after investing personal labor to dig trenches, Teresiah was able to pipe water to her compound.
Teresiah & GAPA
Eventually she found out about the GAPA Program and realized it was a perfect fit for her. Here was an entire program built to serve individuals dealing with the loss of their precious children and the reality of taking on the responsibility of caring for and supporting numerous grandchildren in their old age. Beyond the psychosocial support from the group and the CTC staff, there were real economic and entrepreneurial opportunities, valuable resources, and counseling on health and financial security. Many members were forced to start anew, pursuing a new career when most would be facing "retirement". Some were also still forced to fight HIV/AIDS every day in their homes with children, grandchildren or themselves diagnosed as HIV-positive.
After joining CTC’s GAPA Project, Teresiah attained a loan for 20,000 Kenyan Shillings and bought a dairy cow. She now produces milk for family consumption and for sale. Her compound is too rocky for any farming, so she also rears goats and poultry. CTC carried out shelter construction for her (as they do for many GAPA members) and she improved the structure by installing a cemented floor, making her own ballast from the huge rocks on her plot.
Teresiah The Caretaker
The support of GAPA in establishing a secure financial situation and an appreciation for the importance of health enable her to face medical tragedy with the level of strength that she brings to the table in the Thayu group. This March, her son Kamau was involved in a serious accident and Teresiah was able to seek and provide all necessary care and support for his healing. With support from the CTC team and AIC Kijabe hospital-private service delivery institution, mum is even ensuring that he is compliant with treatment for the TB he contracted.
Teresiah also cares for her grandson, George Mungai, a patient in our Neurological clinic. She follows all instruction to the letter and gives him the best care possible. With vigilance and proper access to information and treatment, George has seen amazing growth. There has been a reduction in convulsions and he no longer urinates in his sleep (he sleeps in their sitting room, on a chair). He is now able to lead a normal life and accompanies Teresiah to their farm.
Teresiah is also supporting one of her orphaned granddaughters who is now in "form four". She is in and out of school due to challenges with paying fees but granny always does her best to provide what she can. She does anything and everything she can to provide for her family and build a home of comfort. She continues to make the best out of what little she has and finds the hope in terrible situations. She is living strong, healthy, hopeful, supportive and is an inspiration to all she meets!
The Reality
Unfortunately, in communities like Maai Mahiu and in situations like Teresiah's, health is often the root cause of serious family tragedy and financial woes but establishing and/or maintaining health is a luxury often beyond the grasp of families looking to make ends meet. CTC's health programs are focused on not only making medical care accessible when emergency strikes but connecting those facing medical issues with the resources that will enable their ability to make their health a priority moving forward.
Keep following us this month to lean more about everything our Medical & Wellness team are accomplishing.