Windhoek has four private hospitals: • Medi-Clinic in the Eros suburb. • The Paramount Health Care Centre, also in Eros. • The Roman Catholic Hospital in the centre of town. • The Rhino Park Private Hospital, accessible from the northern highway. • The Lady Pohamba Private Hospital, in Kleine Kuppe. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2015. Major private hospitals outside Windhoek include Cottage MediClinic in Swakopmund, the Medi-Clinic Private Hospital in Otjiwarongo, the Tsumeb Private Hospital in Tsumeb, the Welwitschia Hospital in Walvis Bay, and Ongwediva Medipark in Ongwediva.
• The Namibian Government has called on stakeholders in the public and the private sectors to establish comprehensive HIV/Aids programmes. • Non-governmental organisations, churches, and youth and women’s groups are assisting by raising awareness and provide care and support. www.mhss.gov.na
Religion Freedom of religion is validated by Namibia’s Bill of Fundamental Rights. • About 90% of the population is Christian. • There are three Lutheran denominations. • Major denominations represented. are Roman Catholic, Dutch Reformed, Rhenish, Anglican, Methodist and Protestant. • There are several reformed groupings and independent African churches. • Many traditional African celebrations have permeated the Christian denominations, such as Ancestors’ Memorial Day observed
HIV/Aids in Namibia
PAUL VAN SCHALKWYK
• Namibia is one of the countries in Africa most affected by the pandemic. • The overall HIV prevalence in Nami bia stands at under 20%, peaking in the age group of 30–34 years.
The craft centre in Windhoek hosts crafters and artisans from across the country
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LÜDERITZ NEST HOTEL
PAUL VAN SCHALKWYK
The Christuskirche, a historic landmark in Windhoek, was opened in 1910
Goerke Haus in Lüderitz depicts classic German colonial architecture
by the Herero people in Okahandja, and similar festivals in Gobabis and Omaruru. • In 1995 Namibia’s first mosque opened in Windhoek. • The Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN) is the governing body for most Christian churches. ccn.gensec@mweb.com.na
Media Despite its small population, Namibia has a varied and lively press, with 13 newspapers. • Five are dailies – The Namibian, New Era (issued by Government), The Namibian Sun, Allgemeine Zeitung and Republikein. • The Namib Times appears twice a week • The Economist, Informanté, Confidénte and The Villager once a week • A weekend tabloid, the Windhoek Observer, appears on Fridays, as does Namibia Today, mouthpiece of the SWAPO party. Caprivi Vision and The Northern Bulletin are published twice monthly. Likewise, there is an eclectic variety of broadcasting media: • The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has nine radio services and one television channel. It broadcasts in English and eight indigenous languages. • There is one privately owned television channel, One Africa TV. • Privately owned radio stations operating from Windhoek are Radiowave, Radio Kudu, Radio Omulunga, Fresh FM, Radio Energy, Kosmos 94.1, 99FM and Channel 7. • Base FM is owned by the Katutura Community Trust, while UNAM Radio, also community-owned, operates from the UNAM campus. • In July 2012, Hitradio Namibia, a new commercial radio station targeting the German market, was launched. • Private commercial enterprises, such as Multichoice Namibia, account for several additional television channels. • The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) is an NGO with members in 11 SADC countries. The MISA Namibia Chapter was launched in November 1998, aimed at maintaining a genuinely free and pluralistic media in Southern Africa. www.misa.org