ONGWEDIVA – Renowned Namibian gynecologist, Dr Naftali Tuyoleni Hamata died Wednesday morning at Ongwediva Medipark. He was 78. 

“Kindness, dependability and willingness to assist those in need” are among the common memoriam phrases shared in remembrance of the renowned doctor who stood tall during the liberation struggle.

The gigantic but silent life of Hamata, was not only decorated by achievements and the roles he played in Namibia’s medical field, but he was a patriotic son of the soil whose contribution to the wellbeing of the Namibian nation goes beyond the provision of health services. He played a pivotal role in the struggle for freedom and independence. This is perhaps best described in his short biography prepared for the conferment of his liberation medal in 2004.

In the medical field - post-independence - he served in different portfolios, including that of being a special advisor to the then minister of health Richard Kamwi, a regional health director in 1997, as well as being a medical superintended from 1990. 

Former health minister Kamwi who worked with Hamata at different levels, over many years, described him as a “hardworking and diplomatic man”.

“He was an early bird at work and only retired when work was done, especially in maternity wards and not determined by time. I had personally been privileged to work with him closely as my special advisor.

Kamwi maintains that 1 March 2023 will go down as a very sad day in public health sector, especially for the children and mothers in the land of the brave.
Kamwi said the passing on of Dr Hamata is not only a loss to his family but to the entire Namibian medical profession and the nation at large.
“Dr Hamata was so dedicated to his cool-headed, a team player, a listener, and an extremely intelligent man with calculated words. He fought for freedom, he was incarcerated in prison, and contributed to nation-building to the best of his ability,” Kamwi said.
He added that given this challenge of great magnitude, Dr Hamata put up a programme where he crisscrossed the country carrying a message of hope for women and children through dedicated professional health practitioners.
He further said, Dr Hamata would regularly every quarter, table the maternal mortality data by region at the ministerial steering committee. 

“His travels to the regions and his supportive supervision visits to hospitals were guided by this data, which he also shared with regional directors and district hospitals,” he said.
Kamwi also added that Dr Hamata then followed up systematically on his findings and tabled recommendations for key actions by the head office at the ministerial steering committee. 

In that way, the services significantly improved and real progress was made.
He said by the end of their tenure of office, according to his last report, MMR [Measles, Mumps, and Rubella] had declined to 108 from over 100 000 cases.

“Thanks to an unwavering call of duty by this true son of the soil. A gentle giant had fallen,” said Kamwi.
He extended his heartfelt condolences to the entire bereaved family, friends and comrades in health.

Minister of health Dr Kalumbi Shangula described his death as a loss to the Namibian medical fraternity, saying his legacy will always be remembered for years to come.

He is survived by his wife and three children.

Funeral and memorial service arrangements will be announced soon.

- vkaapanda@nepc.com.na