By Neo Kolane
A 48-year old man Ha Khethisa in the district of Quthing, Philip Khali, has been incapacitated by illness and now his life has turned into a nightmare full of bitter pain for him and his family.
Khali suffered a stroke while working as a driver at a shop owned by a Chinese national at Mphaki in this southern district. His monthly pay was a meagre M2 000.
His plight has now negatively affected his family as members have to fend for him now that he is paralysed.
Grilled about his disability, Khali was virtually unable to voice out his words. He could only point at the direction of Mphaki where his troubles emerged.
His wife, ‘Maatang said life began to turn into a nightmare when his husband suffered the stroke. He was the sole bread winner for the family.
‘Maatang, who is a mother of a four-month old baby, said her partner’s plight began in August 2019.
While she was narrating the family’s ordeal, she was interrupted by the baby who started crying. She said she was informed by her nephew that her husband had complained of experiencing pins and needles in his hand.
Accompanied by her brother-in-law, she rushed to Mphaki upon receiving the message about her husband’s condition.
“We rushed to his rented house at Mphaki. Upon arrival, we took him to a nearby chemist where we were informed that Khali had suffered a minor stroke. He was given medication which he had to take at prescribed intervals.
The following week, I took him to the clinic and he was diagnosed with high blood pressure and was also given medication.
“Since he could not use his hands anymore, I decided to come home with him as no one would attend him at Mphaki,” ‘Maatang said.
She said Philip was given a week long sick leave in order to rest. He was ordered to go for a medical check-up. Unfortunately, before he could return there, he fell and could not speak anymore.
He was then rushed to the clinic and later transferred to Moyeni in Quthing by ambulance. M450 was paid for him to be transferred to Queen Mamohato Memorial Hospital in Maseru.
“We were never given a proper explanation regarding his condition.
“We were told to take him for physiotherapy every month in Moyeni, but unfortunately we could not afford the expenses as we had to take him to some hospitals. Our hopes for him to recover were shattered as there was no improvement about his condition,” she regretted.
Due to the financial loss, it is now difficult for her to buy school books and uniforms for her school going children.
She added that her family was living a pauper’s life as they do not own any livestock or fields.
Khali’s father, Tṧeliso, who is a small holder farmer, grows wheat, maize and lentils.
He is forced to assist both his own family and that of his son since he suffered the stroke.
All the six children in his son’s family have to depend on him.
The 69-year old spends his day looking after his flock while also ploughing the fields.
He said life has changed for the worse as he is now forced to share food stuffs with his son’s family.
“I have to ensure that they (his son’s family members) also have something to eat,” he soberly said.
In order to fund his 22-year old grandson’s education, he sought a scholarship from Mphaki High School where he completed his studies last year.
The grandson failed two subjects citing the reason that his father’s life condition was hounding him.
“And now two families are depending on me, I do not think I will be able to help with money for him to supplement the subjects. I have told him that he will not be able to go back to school.
“Another grandson has become a herd boy who completed primary school lessons at Tṧethe Primary School because the transition to high school is going to be a problem. We have no means of to continue supporting him financially,” he said.
Tṧeliso disclosed that an unidentified social worker visited his son’s family promising to source some grant from the government.
He said that the family filled in forms and were promised some funding but nothing has come out. He wants the government to come to his son’s rescue by providing for education expenses for the children.
During a visit to Blue Wheels supermarket this week, the owner of the shop, known only as Nelson, said he knew Philip who was employed for a year without a contract.
Nelson agreed that Phllip fell sick while on duty but was never compensated.
The scribe sought a comment from the assistant information officer of the ministry of social development, Moipone Teeba, who promised that her ministry would attend to the matter next week.
