Lahja Nashuuta

For Manasse Kondjashili Nevonga, healthcare is more than a profession – it is a calling built on compassion, service and the desire to make a difference in people’s lives.

Nevonga is a registered nurse and case manager at Windhoek Central Hospital, where he works under the customer care office assisting patients to access medical care and support. 

Every day, he interacts with patients and families facing difficult situations, helping them navigate challenges within the healthcare system.

From a young age, Nevonga knew he wanted to serve people through the public sector.  His passion for helping vulnerable people, especially children and the elderly, inspired him to pursue a career in healthcare.

“It was always my dream to work in the public sector after finishing high school,” he said.  “Helping people, especially elderly people and children, has always made me happy,” he stated.

Nevonga joined the public service in 2015 at Windhoek Central Hospital after completing his studies. Determined to grow professionally, he later travelled to South Africa to further his studies while gaining valuable healthcare experience at Luis Luiport, where he worked for two years. However, despite opportunities abroad, his heart remained in Namibia.

In 2020, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Nevonga made the decision to return home to continue serving his country during one of the most difficult periods in modern healthcare history.

“Coming back during Covid-19 was important for me because I wanted to contribute and help my country during a difficult time,” he explained. Today, he says serving in the public sector remains one of the greatest privileges of his life.

“Working in the public sector is a privilege to me because every day I get a chance to help someone,” he said.

Helping patients 

As a case manager at Windhoek Central Hospital, Nevonga plays an important role in ensuring patients receive the medical attention they need. His responsibilities include assisting patients who require referrals to private hospitals or specialised treatment outside Namibia, particularly in South Africa. 

He also handles patient complaints and works closely with doctors, specialists and hospital departments to resolve challenges affecting patient care.

“My job is to help patients who need referrals to private hospitals or even treatment abroad,” he explained.  “I also attend to complaints from patients and solve issues that are within my responsibility,” he stated.

Through his work, Nevonga often becomes a bridge between patients, families and healthcare professionals, helping people during moments of fear, uncertainty and emotional stress.

Challenges 

However, working in the healthcare sector comes with many challenges.

One of the biggest difficulties, he said, is dealing with frustrated patients when hospitals experience shortages of medication, equipment or other resources.

“The difficult moments are when patients come to complain because they were not helped immediately due to shortages of equipment or medication,” he said.  “It is painful because we understand what they are going through,” Nevonga said.

Despite the pressures, he remains committed to treating patients with dignity, patience and compassion.

For him, the greatest reward is seeing patients recover and return home happy. 

“I always feel good when I help solve a patient’s problem,” he said.  “Seeing patients return home smiling and happy with their families is one of the best feelings,” he stated.

His work has also allowed him to collaborate with case managers from private healthcare institutions such as Lady Pohamba Private Hospital and Rhino Park Private Hospital. 

Through these engagements, he continues learning new approaches to improve patient care and strengthen professionalism within the healthcare sector.

“We discuss different ways of improving patient care and how to handle our responsibilities professionally,” he added.

Unforgettable

Among the many lives he has touched over the years, one patient’s story continues to stay close to Nevonga’s heart.

He recalled helping a young woman from a remote area in Namibia who urgently needed heart surgery. 

At the time, there was no cardiologist available in her region to assist her.

“There was a young lady from a remote area who needed heart surgery,” he remembered. 

“I discussed her case with our cardiologist so that she could come to Windhoek for treatment,” he said.

After careful coordination and arrangements, the patient was transferred to the Windhoek Central Hospital, where she successfully underwent surgery.

“In the end, the operation was successful, and she went back home smiling,” Nevonga said proudly. 

“That case will always stay in my heart,” he added. For Nevonga, moments like these remind him why he chose healthcare in the first place. 

Beyond medicine and hospital procedures, he believes healthcare is ultimately about humanity, kindness and giving people hope during their most vulnerable moments.

– lnashuuta@nepc.com.na