BIG Pilot Project - Assessment Report - BIG Coalition Namibia

2.10 General Healthlots of things to buy but the money is not alwaysenough so we plan carefully. One good thing is thatwe don’t spend any more money for transport toGobabis to get our pills (Antiretrovirals), but thedoctor himself comes to Otjivero every month. Sowe get our treatment on time that's why we look sogood and well. The people of Otjivero have changeda lot. We don’t any more hear of people complainingof hunger or asking food around. The theftcases have also reduced tremendously. Manypeople bought corrugated zincs and repaired theirhouses. We buy most of the time wood, thus wedon’t have any more many cases of people stealingwood. Fightings and strong alcohol use have reallybeen reduced. We don’t any more hear of peoplefighting. (Johannes and Adolfine Goagoses, July2008)His story bears testimony to how the health status aswell as the living conditions of people living with HIVimproved since the introduction of the BIG. It showshow the BIG can complement and strengthen the Government'sefforts to provide ARVs to all who need them.2.11 EducationOtjivero-Omitara has had a primary school, which islocated in the centre of the settlement since 1996. Ithas the potential to improve the prospects of Otjivero'schildren, but at the time of the baseline survey inNovember 2007, financial problems were keeping manychildren out of school. In addition, the school reportedthat the lack of adequate nutrition of many childrenhad a negative impact on the performance. Due to thelack of payments of school fees, the school had verylimited financial resources and leverage to improve thequality of education.63