Windhoek
Namibian eye specialist Dr Helena Ndume was awarded with the first ever United Nations (UN) Nelson Mandela Prize for her work to better humanity yesterday, was hailed by Namibians specifically in the health sector.
The UN General Assembly last year established the prize as a tribute to Mandela’s legacy of reconciliation and peaceful political transition as South Africa’s first black president. Portugal’s former leftist president Jorge Sampaio was also announced the winner of the same accolade. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Andrew Ndishishi commented that “it’s very good. It’s an achievement for Namibia’s public and health science in general which is recognised and appreciated at an international level”. General Practitioner Dr Ndapewa Hamunime yesterday said “it’s very good news and a great honour for the country”.
Hamunime noted how Ndume worked tirelessly and with dedication to restore the sight of many people who had lost hope of ever regaining their vision, especially the elderly. Ndishishi further said that Ndume’s award should serve as an encouragement to health professionals in the country to work with passion and dedication. And that “A reward will come,” the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health said. Hamunime added the fact that Ndume was awarded means many more Namibians can win similar awards. Hamunime also urged health professionals to serve humanity with all they have. Ndume, head of ophthalmology at Windhoek Central Hospital, won recognition for her work, providing no-cost eye surgery to Namibians suffering from blindness, cataracts and myopia. Educated in Germany, Ndume has also set up eye camps in Angola, working with international organisations to bring eye surgery to the country’s poor. The prize will be awarded at a ceremony on July 24 at the United Nations as part of annual commemorations of the life of Mandela, who died in December 2013 at the age of 95. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the United Nations hoped to carry on Mandela’s “lifelong work through this meaningful prize.”