The UNAM Cares community engagement programme, in partnership with the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), successfully conducted One Health in Action Interventions from 11–16 May 2025 in Omatako Settlement, Nhoma Village, and Nhoma Safari Camp, in the Tsumkwe constituency, Otjozondjupa region.
Funding support was provided under Germany’s Global Health Protection Programme (GHPP) through the initiative Enhancing One Health Institutionalization. These interventions were designed to address the interconnected health needs of humans, animals, and the environment, using an inclusive, community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach.
The activities were based on insights from a 2024 pilot Study among Ju/’Hoansi and !Kung SAN-speaking communities, co-implemented with the !Kung Traditional Authority Council, Ministries of Health, Education, and NAMPOL and the Tsumkwe Constituency Council.
Stakeholder Engagement and Community Dialogues
A stakeholder feedback meeting held at Omatako on 12 May 2025 brought together 20 leaders from government, traditional authority, education, and health sectors.
Key concerns raised included: Lack of adequate medical staff and transport at Omatako Clinic. High rates of malnutrition and absence of anti-rabies treatment protocols.
High youth unemployment and increasing substance abuse and inadequate sanitation at Omatako Primary School, where over 400 learners currently lack access to clean toilets and safe running tap water.
Integrated One Health Interventions in Omatako (13–14 May):
UNAM final year Vet Med students, health professionals, and community youth engaged in:
- Rabies education and animal deworming at six sites whereby more than 50 dogs and cats were dewormed and treated for tick fever and fly bite wounds.
- Educational environmental clean-up campaigns were conducted in collaboration with local One Health Champions.
Environmental Health Clean Up Campaign in Omatako (14 May 2025)
The One Health Intervention Day continued with a cleaning-up campaign in Omatako Settlement.
One Health in Action in Nhoma Village (15 May 2025):
At SAN Rise Village School, the One Health team conducted educational community conversations with learners and residents on hand hygiene, human health in prevention of zoonotic diseases.
Animal health and welfare education and dog deworming were provided. A proposal emerged to stengthen the school-based vegetable garden in Nhoma, with UNAM Cares committed to solitict support for this.
Nhoma Safari Camp (15 May):
Over 70 residents participated in an interactive education session on personal hygiene, animal health and welfare, rabies prevention, human and animal deworming, and environmental health.
Impact and Outlook
The One Health in Action Interventions showcased the value of cross-sectoral collaboration in addressing health risks across human, animal, and environmental systems in remote and underserved areas.
These activities, ranging from dog deworming to health education and environmental clean-ups, affirm the necessity of locally anchored, multisectoral strategies.
The initiatives were led by Prof Rachel Freeman (Head: UNAM Cares), with veterinary supervision by Dr Yvonne Hemberger (School of Veterinary Medicine) and three final year UNAM Vet. Med. Students (as part of Clinical skills training), Dr Michael Shirungu (Anthropologist) with strategic partnership support by FLI ( Dr Frank Bush).
UNAM Cares extends appreciation to Germany’s Global Health Protection Programme (GHPP) through the initiative Enhancing One Health Institutionalization.
We are immensely grateful for the support and collaboration by the Otjozondjupa leadership, Tsumkwe Constituency Councilor, !Kung Traditional Authority Council, local community leaders, and the communities of Omatako and Nhoma for their active participation.
The interventions reaffirm UNAM Cares’ commitment to sustainable, community-empowered health solutions in Namibia’s remote and underserved areas.
Contact:
Prof Rachel Freeman, Head: UNAM Cares
📱 +264 81 252 0601 | ✉️ rfreeman@unam.na
