Incurably ill woman, 50, asks for council flat on ground floor

FEELING blessed to be alive but saddened by the lack of freedom and experiences most people take for granted, 50-year-old Charlene Moses said sickness and disability had robbed her of a normal life.

“I don’t have children of my own, no education or job and I can’t go anywhere except for the clinic,” said the lymphoedema patient from Hout Bay.

Lymphoedema is an incurable condition caused by a blockage in the lymphatic vessels.

Moses was born with elephantiasis in 1970, and grew up being teased by other children for having uneven legs and awkward movement. She dropped out of school in Grade 9 and watched her dream of becoming a social worker vanish.

“Then the worst happened, I was diagnosed with lymphoedema in my thirties. That’s when I started experiencing excruciating pain every now and then. I always needed pain killers until I decided it wasn’t the right way to live.

“I live upstairs and my plea to be transferred to a ground floor by the City of Cape Town fell on deaf ears. I don’t know what else I can do.

“So the only view and fresh air I have is through the window. My biggest wish is to live on the ground floor and be able to see people, enjoy fresh air, easily get to transport when I need to go to the clinic. I am growing old and too much of a burden to my sister,” she said.

Moses lives with her 55-year-old sister, Veronica, who’s been looking after her since their parents died six years ago. They survive on Charlene’s disability grant and wages from Veronica’s

piece jobs.

Mayco member for Human Settlements Malusi Booi said the City’s Housing Allocation policy does provide for the rightsizing of tenants whose family members may have severe debilitating illnesses or disability should they submit medical reports to substantiate the nature of their illness and disability.

“Once the medical reports are submitted, consideration will be given to determine whether Ms Moses’ condition warrants priority transfer to a ground floor unit. To this end, priority allocation could be considered but this is purely based on availability of such ground floor units in the Hout Bay area,” said Booi.

Supplied LYMPHOEDEMA and elephantiasis robbed her of a normal life, says Charlene Moses, 50, of Hangberg. She hopes the City will help her achieve a degree of freedom in a convenient ground floor council flat. |