When someone collapses from cardiac arrest, the first few minutes decide whether they live. Thanks to a new accreditation, more Namibians will soon know exactly what to do in those minutes.
The University of Namibia first started its accreditation process on 01 October 2025 as an American Heart Association (AHA) Training Site, and effective 09 November 2026 received full accreditation status. This makes UNAM the only university in Namibia accredited to deliver certified AHA life-support training.
The UNAM BLS and First Aid Training Office in the School of Nursing & Public Health at the Main Campus runs the site, offering AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) and Heartsaver First Aid courses. All 12 UNAM campuses countrywide are accredited training sites too, bringing the courses within reach across the country.
Three staff members completed AHA instructor training at Emergency Care Education, an accredited AHA International Training Centre in Durban, South Africa. The UNAM Training Site Administrators are Justa Davids and Hernengaten Konjore, and Training Site Coordinator Benjamin Manetti.
“Being the only university in Namibia with this accreditation is a responsibility as much as an honour. Our students can now earn an internationally recognised certificate right here at UNAM,” said Ms. Davids, who is also a lecturer in the School of Nursing & Public Health.
In October 2026, the office certified its first cohort: 67 Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy students trained in AHA BLS. The certificates are valid for two years and meet the professional practice requirements of the Health Professions Council of Namibia (HPCNA).
The courses are not only for health students. They require no medical background and are open to UNAM staff and students, healthcare professionals, companies and members of the public.
“You do not need to be a nurse or a doctor to save a life. Anyone, from a student to an office worker, can learn the skills to act in an emergency,” said Mr. Manetti, also a lecturer in the school.
The office is now working towards accreditation for Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) and Advanced Stroke Life Support (ASLS). Together with Emergency Care Education, UNAM aims to grow from a training site into Namibia’s first full AHA International Training Centre.
Individuals and companies interested in training or quotations can contact Justa Davids (davidsj@unam.na) or Benjamin Manetti (BManetti@unam.na) at the School of Nursing and Public Health.
