OTJUNUNGUA/OHAJUAA – Women from Kunene’s remote areas, such as Ohajuua and Otjinungua, are eager for a new experience: giving birth in a hospital.
Since time immemorial, they have been delivering their babies in the mountains, at home, or even in the bush.
Despite their resilience in facing harsh conditions, these women believe it is time for them to sample what modern maternal care offers.
Recently, the New Era team travelled to the Epupa, Sesfontein, Opuwo Rural, and Kamanjab constituencies of Kunene to see first-hand the development progress in these communities and uncover the challenges they continue facing.
In Ohajuua, the community consists of Ovatua and Ovahimba, who were resettled there by the government in 2007 through the Office of the Prime Minister, an initiative overseen by former Deputy Prime Minister, veteran politician, and medical professional, Libertina Amathila.
“We used to live in the mountains, in the villages. But the government convinced our grandparents and parents to come here. It seemed a good thing then because we thought it meant liberation.
“Our mothers gave birth to us in the tradional way, with no proper care, and this has become a generational issue. We want to give birth in comfort, safety, and with the medical expertise that hospitals offer,” said Mukoomukuvare Tjisuta, a young mother of six children, all delivered at home.
Tjisuta, who cannot remember her age, has never experienced giving birth in a hospital due to the distance.
“The only hospital we have is in Opuwo, 300 kilometres from here. It’s far and expensive to get there. There is no reliable transport to ensure you reach the hospital without giving birth on the way. The roads are terrible and it feels safer to give birth at home,” she added.
However, she admits that since she has never experienced giving birth in hospital, she cannot speak of its benefits.
“I don’t know the risks or advantages of giving birth in a hospital. If I comment on it, I’d be lying to myself and the public. All I know is that I’ve gone through antenatal care here with an experienced midwife. You endure a lot of pain and lose a lot of blood; that’s something I can attest to. I have suffered with all my six children,” she explained.
Hospital doors
Kazekarerua Tjiposa shared a similar experience. Like Tjisuta, she has delivered all her babies at home and has not experienced delivering in a hospital.
“I want to, but the challenges we have highlighted prevent me. The road is bad, and there is no transport to take us to Opuwo. The clinic at Epupa functions, but it doesn’t handle maternity cases since it’s not a health centre. To go to Opuwo, we have to leave two or three months in advance, but we don’t have the money to sustain ourselves in town for that long. We are marginalised, unemployed, and rely mostly on government support,” Tjiposa said emotionally.
She continued: “I’m young, and all I know is that giving birth is painful. At home, you’re placed on a rock for comfort and then you deliver. But there are always complications. Some lose their babies, while others go through unbearable pain.”
For Hiitaverua Tjihange, the story is different. Of her six children, one was born in a hospital.
“Hospital birth is much better, if not perfect, compared to traditional delivery. I was fortunate because my pregnancy had exceeded the estimated delivery date. I went to the clinic, and they sent me to Opuwo in a car I found there. I delivered at Opuwo Hospital. It was a good experience – the nurses help you, and your baby is properly checked and observed,” she explained.
However, she could not return to the hospital for subsequent births due to financial constraints.
“I continued giving birth here. You lose a lot of blood and feel weak for days. I don’t want to go through that pain again, but I have no other option. I’m done having children now, but I hope something changes for the next generation so they don’t endure this same suffering.”
Silver lining
On a positive note, Ohajuua has a mobile clinic and a school, both established during Amathila’s tenure.
However, the residents claim these services stopped functioning when she left office.
“We at least need our clinic to be operational again, with nurses on 24-hour attendance. It would help us a lot. Right now, if our babies are sick, we have to wait a day or two to travel to Epupa Falls clinic, which is 70 kilometres away. We need help,” Tjisuta pleaded.
New Era observed that the road to Ohajuua is not suitable for a heavily pregnant woman, as it is rocky and rugged and cars can only move at a snail’s pace.
In fact, this was confirmed by those on the ground.
At Otjavaya, traditional leader Venondjaa Hepute highlighted severe challenges women in her village face during childbirth. She urged the government to find a lasting solution to prevent women from enduring unnecessary suffering.
“I have assisted many women through pregnancy and delivery. It’s not easy – these women are suffering, and they deserve to experience modern childbirth. Recently, one young woman gave birth with the baby’s legs and an arm out, while the head and another arm remained inside. I arrived in time to help her, but the baby died. Another incident involved a baby who did not breath when it was born. I rubbed two white stones together for an hour, and the baby started crying.
“Although we have traditional ways, we are not happy. Our girls need to give birth in hospitals. The government must upgrade clinics to include maternity wards. The world has changed, and it’s no longer safe for our children to give birth like this,” the traditional leader said, noting that all her nine children were delivered in the traditional way.
Hepute recounted another incident where a baby got stuck in the womb and died upon delivery, despite using the stone technique.
“While maternal death rates are low, it’s time young mothers experience hospital births,” she insisted.
Otjinungua is about 330 kilometres from Opuwo, a journey that takes eight hours each way.
It has a functioning clinic with nurses rotating monthly, but they are ill-equipped to handle birth complications.
“We need a midwife stationed here permanently to assist our girls,” Hepute proposed.
True
Epupa constituency councillor Tjimutambo Kuuoko is alive to the challenges.
“Yes, what they’re saying is true. Some people give birth at home due to cultural practices, but many do so because of the poor roads and lack of transport,” he said.
He confirmed that Ohajuua’s clinic is non-functional, forcing people to travel to the Epupa clinic or Opuwo for medical care.
“But I advise you to contact the regional health director for more input, as they are the key ministry in this matter,” Kuuoko added.
When contacted, regional health director Thomas Shapumba said he could not comment on the issue as he was out of office.