Haufiku says Nujoma boosted Namibia’s life expectancy

 

By: Envaalde Matheus

Former health minister Bernard Haufiku praised the Founding President Sam Nujoma for significantly improving Namibia’s life expectancy from 54 years to nearly 70 years post-independence.

Haufiku attributed the increase in life expectancy to Nujoma’s focus on ensuring hospitals were equipped with essential infrastructure and that all children were born in health facilities.

“The data is there. If you take life expectancy at independence, it was roughly 54 years. It is now almost 70 or 60 something, and it did not just come along the way,” said Haufiku.

He also mentioned the establishment of critical medical facilities, such as the cardiac unit at Windhoek Central Hospital and the school of medicine, is what  Nujoma envisioned long ago.

“The founding father went on a head-hunt and got a consultant from Kenya and Germany and gave instruction to professor Hangula or Peter Katjavivi that we want to set up a medical school here to train our own doctors,” stated Haufiku.

Haufiku acknowledged Nujoma’s imperfections but said his achievements and leadership remain key guiding principles for Namibia’s ongoing progress.

“I’m not saying he was an angel, nobody is clean as an egg. We know from those who were in exile, obviously it is not easy to lead a group of people, they were rebellion and as human beings you will make an error.  But that is nothing compared to the achievement. I think Namibia was blessed to have a leader of his calibre. I believe there are many more we can mobilise in this country”.