allAfrica.com: Namibia: Seafarers At High Risk of HIV/Aids (Page 1 of 3)

As HIV/Aids continues to take its toll around the world and in particular in Namibia, the harbour town of Walvis Bay is no exception.

The pandemic continues to impact heavily on human lives through either infected or affected families. In this special report,

CHARLES TJATINDI finds out how the pandemic impacts on the lives of one of the most vulnerable groups at the town - the sea-going employees.

As the clock strikes five on a Friday, hordes of workers can be seen along the streets of Kuisebmond. Joy and relief is clearly written on their faces as they make their way to their respective dwellings. This is no ordinary Friday.

Besides being the 25th of the month - meaning payday for most workers here, they seemingly also have another reason to celebrate. Earlier in the day four fishing vessels sailed in from a three-month fishing stint in deep waters.

For an outsider, this might probably go unnoticed. But for those residing here however, it is a big occasion.

As the fishermen aboard the vessels that docked earlier in the day had been gone for three months, they are loaded with cash. Besides receiving their hard-earned salaries of three months, they also have a lot of fish with them to show for their hard toil and labour.

As if confirming the old adage that "money is the root of all evil", what normally happens next with most of these sea-going workers, according to some of them, is a sad and sordid affair.

New Era learnt that many of the sea-going employees would frequent shebeens and other drinking holes, flashing their hard-earned cash around as they go. This does seemingly not only earn them new 'friends' for the evening who are only interested in what they can buy, but it also inadvertently wins them admirers from the opposite sex. These are normally young out-of-school and unemployed women, who would allegedly do anything to earn a few bucks for their fatherless children back home, it emerged.

For the fishermen, parting with their hard-earned cash can only be done on one condition - that they get rewarded through sex. So, the deal is clinched; a few more drinks for the new friends and the targeted women follows. Soon, the clearly intoxicated fisherman staggers out of the bar, with the woman by his side and disappears into the darkness. Such behaviour by some of these fishermen has had many believe that is what puts them at risk of contracting HIV. Although not being practiced by everybody, sea-going employees related that such trends have led to the downfall of many of their colleagues.

The fast pace at which the harbour town is developing has allegedly also been fuelling this trend, as desperate women in need of an income flock here in the hope of securing formal employment. When that fails, however, anything goes in a desperate attempt to earn a living, as all rules are seemingly done with, guards are dropped, and the 'game' continues unabated.

Walvis Bay currently hosts a navy base, numerous fast-growing factories and an army camp just outside town. According to some residents here, those working at these places are usually the targets of women seeking money in exchange for their bodies - bait that has seemingly brought in much-needed cash for these women.

Sadly, the picture also appears to be a thorny one for those in steady relationships, or even married ones. While most sea-going employees try their best to behave once back from sea by remaining faithful to their partners, concerns have been raised as to whether their loyalty is reciprocated by their partners. Due to their prolonged absence from home, many have come to believe that their partners do not necessarily remain faithful throughout that period.

Richard Mbaha, a sea-going employee with a fishing company, notes that it is difficult to believe that their partners remain entirely committed to them during their absence.

"I know that women differ. There are some good women out there that remain entirely faithful to the partners when they are out at sea. But there is no denying the fact that some women start misbehaving the moment you set foot on that vessel. We have seen cases where relationships ended because the women could not stand being on their own for so long," he said.

According to Mbaha, the price to pay when their partners have been unfaithful is not only losing the relationship, but also risk contracting HIV. Coupled to that is the issue of inconsistent or non-condom use in steady relationships, he notes.

"When people have been together, got tested for HIV at the start of their relationship, it somehow gives a ticket to do whatever they wish. I mean, it is good that we have both tested negative, but dropping the use of condoms just because we are steady is very risky as you do not know what your partner does behind closed doors when you are not around," said Mbaha.

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