Emilie Shimbali
A group of 577 students received qualifications at the fourth annual Welwitchia Health Training Centre (WHTC) graduation in Windhoek on Friday.
Out of the total, 153 students graduated with a bachelor of nursing, 395 received certificates in enrolled nursing and midwifery, and 15 graduates received diplomas in environmental health sciences.
It also witnessed the first-ever group of 14 pharmacists receiving certificates in pharmacy.
Graduates came from as far as Walvis Bay, Nkurenkuru and Kombat for the ceremony.
Letshego Holdings Namibia chief executive Dr. Ester Kali said in her keynote address that the graduates are now well-equipped to fight Covid-19.
“We must all continue to fight this invisible enemy, and I can assure you that with God on our side, we shall certainly win this battle as we have done with every other pandemic that has befallen us as a people. To all health workers graduating today, your services are in dire need, and I am told that most of you, if not all, have already been engaged by both the government and private sector,” she added.
Kali noted that her bank shall also play its part to serve the graduates, and through the WHTC Students Representative Council, will avail bank accounts and products which can assist students remaining behind to be banked and financially assisted through the various products.
“I am also happy to have learnt that the government continues to assist some of the students through the Namibia Students’ Financial Assistance Fund, and I must implore the government to continue funding more students.”
Despite the joyous event, the institution mourned the deaths of several staff members who succumbed to Covid-19-related illnesses.
“I am happy to note that none of the students were lost due to Covid-19-related deaths, although today we mourn the passing away of lecturers due to Covid-19, and two students who were lost due to other illnesses,” said Kali.
The WHTC opened its first campus in 2013 and to date has seven campuses in Windhoek, Walvis Bay, Kombat, Mururani, Outapi, Nkurenkuru and Katima Mulilo, while expansion plans include Helao Nafidi, Oshikuku, Grootfontein and Swakopmund, where land has already been identified.
The NQA-accredited institution also offers various non-health related courses, including Bachelor of Science (BSc) Honours Computing and Information Systems, Bachelor of Engineering Logistics Management, Bachelor of Engineering: Industrial Management.
It was established by Prof Scholastika Ndatinda Iipinge and Monika Pendukeni, who both hail from the nursing profession, having served the Namibian population for years in various capacities.