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Yas has survived physical violence, but now struggles to find food and shelter
By Steeves Winner
In Douala, behind the invisible walls of marginalization, Yas, a trans woman, struggles daily for her survival. A survivor of physical violence, she bears the scars of rejection and abandonment in her body and mind.
“I barely have anywhere to sleep, eating is a struggle, and getting medical care has become a constant battle,” confides Yas (a pseudonym for her protection).
Accustomed to managing on her own, even at great risk, she now finds she needs more but has no one to turn to. Her health is seriously threatened: she has almost run out of medication treating her high blood pressure and her difficulty breathing. Her appointments at the Barcelona clinic in Douala, essential for taking her medication, are becoming increasingly difficult to keep as she battles to achieve basic levels of sleep, food and shelter..
Yet doctors recently told her that her viral load has decreased significantly, a sign that the treatment is working. But without support, she fears she won’t be able to continue.
Beyond the material hardships, Yas expresses the weight of despair: “Suicidal thoughts overwhelm me. I’m losing all hope of ever finding a place to live peacefully, without fear, rejection, or abandonment.”
She still remembers the day in Douala when someone simply asked her if she had a place to sleep. This simple gesture gave her a moment of comfort: proof that there are people of goodwill capable of sharing in the suffering of others.
That’s what Yas says she need more of. She isn’t asking for charity, but for the possibility of regaining dignity and stability. Her story reminds us that behind every number, every statistic, there are lives hanging in the balance, fragile existences that depend on our collective ability to reach out.
Steeves Winner, the author of this article, is a Cameroonian journalist who writes under a pseudonym. Contact him at steeves.w@yahoo.com.
