Make Thembalihle, Who Lives with a Visual Impairment, Bravely Fights for Her Family and Community Against COVID-19

In the north-west Hhohho Region of the Kingdom of eSwatini, community of Nduma, Motshane Inkhundla, lives an inspiring woman; Make Thembalihle Vilakati. At the age of sixty, she shows remarkable daily strength as she battles her visual impairment, especially during this time of the COVID-19 outbreak.

A visual impairment does not stop Make Thembahlile from providing and caring for her family: her older sister, younger brother, daughter, teenage niece and four-year-old grandson. Make Thembalihle is a respectable businesswoman who makes and sells chili sauce within her community. Having previously made liquid soap, she hopes to produce solid soap for her community.

Make’s impact is evident as she started an association, Network of Business Women with Disabilities in Eswatini, which aims to empower women with disabilities to generate their own income. Having recently purchased land in Lobamba, Make stated; “ We hope to build a shed to start peanut butter production with the association members. The Inkhundla has constructed toilets on the land already but we are still sourcing funds for the project.”

It is inspiring to witness Make Thembalihle’s commitment to her community and family: in this time of the COVID-19 outbreak, she understands the seriousness of the virus, making sure to keep herself informed and in turn, her family, on the recommended prevention measures by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“I try to make sure that my family eats well to boost their immune systems,” said Make. Eating fresh vegetables and fruit is so important in protecting ourselves and one another against COVID-19.

Unfortunately, Make Thembalihle’s Disability Grant of E180 per month has ceased in this economically turbulent time and does not generally suffice, as she shares much of what she is given with her friends living with ‘worse’ disabilities. Sanitizer and masks are unavailable in Make’s community, making the community reliant on soap, Jik and scarves as make-shift masks.

Make Thembalihle’s family lives in a colder part of the country, making them more susceptible to colds and the flu. As seasons turn and colds spread, with similar symptoms to that of COVID-19, community members face the difficulty of discerning whether they have a cold, the flu or the virus.

“At the moment, everyone in the family has a cold or flu but we cannot tell if it is the virus,” said Make Thembalihle. Accessible medical facilities for communities nationwide are therefore desperately needed for people to visit in times of doubt and when experiencing symptoms.

Daily routine has slightly changed for Make Thembalihle as her daughter, a teacher, is home due to school closures. Make explained; “I usually wake up at 5am to get my grandson ready for school, but now that my daughter is home, I can rest.” Despite the COVID-19 turmoil, the national lockdown provides a time for many people to rest and reflect; something which our busy lives do not allow at times.

A difficult part of the COVID-19 outbreak for those living with disabilities, is a heightened sense of burden on their families; “I do not have the means to purchase emergency material required for the outbreak,” said Make Thembalihle, “ I feel like I am now more of a burden on my family who are in a tight spot,” she continued. The impact of the coronavirus stretches far beyond the disease itself and it is vital that we protect vulnerable communities such as persons living with disabilities. Their daily strength is awe-inspiring and now is the time to be strong for our friends, family members and neighbours living with disabilities through this difficult time.