Poverty and disease in D’kar: A teen’s story
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Thursday September 18, 2025 09:09
Tuberculous Meningitis (TBM) is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, caused by the same bacteria that cause tuberculosis. The infection typically begins in the lungs and spreads to the brain, leading to symptoms like persistent headache, fever, and confusion that develop slowly over weeks.
Eighteen-year old Goreng Xhara is recovering from the illness as well as malnourishment. D’kar, a settlement in Gantsi District, has some of the country’s highest poverty rates highlighted by conditions such as malnourishment and leading to diseases such as TBM.
In an interview with Mmegi, Goreng’s mother, Khamxlae Xhara, 41 years old, said her daughter started getting sick in 2023 when she went back to boarding school at Charleshill in Gantsi region.
“We were called by the school telling us that my daughter was sick,” Khamxlae recounted. “Her ailment started as a headache and it later got worse. “We had to bring her home and the sickness got worse everyday. She was vomiting and later was not able to eat anything. “She was later referred to hospitals in Gaborone where she underwent operations in the head, to her lungs and her back. “She has pipes all over her body and has gone through many different operations. “She finally got help from Bokamoso Private Hospital.”
The young mother further explained that Goreng was at some point unable to walk, bath or do anything on her own. She added that there were instances when the family was scared they might lose her as she had shed a lot of weight and was so thin her skeleton could be seen.
Khamxlae gives thank to the local government through its universal health policy. Under the policy, and through the D’kar Health Post and UNICEF feeding scheme, Goreng’s life was saved. When her daughter improved, the family took her back to school and she managed to sit for her Junior Certificate Examination (JCE) where she unfortunately, but understandably did not do well.
Khamxlae, her siblings and their families all stay in the same yard and are unemployed. They depend on Ipelegeng and the government food basket to survive.
According to Khamxlae, the food is not enough for the whole family. She called on the nation to lend a helping hand and possibly build better houses for them. She added that her daughter still needs assistance more especially because requires a special diet that the family is unable to afford.
“Even though I feel much better, my other hand is not working,” Goreng told Mmegi. “I lost my memory and had to be taught how to speak and walk again. “At the moment, I cannot write my name but I used to know how to write and read. “I also believe my illness contributed to me not doing well in my exams.”
She said the food assistance had helped her recovery, but things had since changed.
“The peanut butter I got from the clinic helped me a lot. “I gained weight and felt alive again. “Now they have stopped giving it to me and I am now given food from the drought relief programme but it is not enough because I share it with my family. “Today, I have not eaten since I woke up.”
According to nurse Thabiso Mhlauli, they gave Goreng Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) aimed at combating acute malnutrition among children. He however said even though RUTF was aimed at children aged five years and younger, they also give it to teens and elders who suffer from malnutrition. Many call RUTF peanut butter because of its nutty flavor.
Mhlauli explained that the RUTF supplement has been given to other malnourished people with underlying health conditions as well as pregnant women. Health authorities enrolled Goreng to take the supplement last year when she was 17 years old.
“The teenager had other underlying health issues and was underweight. “She could not eat and at the time weighed 26 kgs. The target was to raise her weight to 39kgs and after being administered the RUTF, she grew stronger and improved her weight. “Most Basarwa communities suffer from malnutrition due to different factors such as poverty, lifestyle and others,” Mhlauli said.
He added that in many cases, expectant mothers in the area are under weight and also gave birth to similarly underweight children.
“While it is common that women gain more weight during pregnancy, this is not the case with most of the Basarwa women in settlements such as D'kar. “We have noted high tuberculosis statistics in the settlement, which are believed to be linked to communities overcrowding in their residences,” he said.
Mhlaudi further explained that TB also leads to loss of weight and therefore contributes to malnutrition. He said serious interventions re needed to teach the Basarwa communities how to live better.
The community of D’kar is stalked by both poverty and disease. Goreng’s story is one of survival but the same may not be the case for others in the area and beyond.