By Staff Reporter
WINDHOEK
The Namibia Red Cross Society has appointed Tabita Dorkas Kapembe-Haiduwa as new secretary general.
Acting secretary general, Naemi Heita, made the announcement in the Society’s newsletter of December 2007on behalf of the NRCS chairman.
Kapembe-Haiduwa’s appointment is with effect from January 2.
The statement says Kapembe-Haiduwa graduated from the University of Namibia with a Diploma in Nursing in 1991. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce obtained from the University of Namibia in 2002 and she is currently doing her Masters in Public Health with the University of South Africa.
Kapembe-Haiduwa star-ted her career as a Registered Nurse in Oshakati State Hospital in 1992 and was later transferred to Katutura State Hospital as a Senior Registered Nurse. In 2002, Kapembe-Haiduwa was appointed VCT Project Coordinator at Social Marketing Association (SMA). She comes to the Namibia Red Cross Society from a Programme Manager’s position at Social Marke-ting Association’s Military Action Prevention Program (MAPP).
Kapembe-Haiduwa has extensive experience in the management of HIV and Aids programmes such as those of VCT (ART, PMTCT and Rapid Testing). She has vast experience in the development of programme Management By Objectives (MBOs).
Significantly, the statement says, “Kapembe-Haiduwa has initiated and spearheaded the SMA’s organisational change that has led to the reformed Social Marketing Association as we know it today”.
The newsletter describes her as “soft-spoken and exudes an aura of calmness and serenity”.
Kapembe-Haiduwa says, “I am a people’s person. I love to help people and I spend my time listening. The secret is in listening and giving everyone a fair chance.”
When asked how she plans to continue the Namibia Red Cross’ legacy of delivering humanitarian assistance effectively, Kapembe-Haiduwa says, “I have one strategy, I will give my people 100 percent. At the end of the day, it is up to them to maintain or deduct from that 100 percent.
“My working ethic is very simple – honesty is critical, mutual trust, and a lot of dedication and hard work.”
Kapembe-Haiduwa replaces Razia Kauaria, who left the organisation last year.