WINDHOEK – Christmas came early for sick children at the Katutura hospital when the Association of Diplomatic Spouses in Namibia (ADSN) put a smile on their faces by giving them toys and sweet treats yesterday.
Representatives from Nigeria, Kenya, Algeria, Botswana, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Portugal, France and Germany in addition to showering the children with gifts also showered them with encouraging words and prayers.
Also, Santa Claus chanted “ho, ho, ho merry Christmas” to the delight of the children .
Those too sick or too small to accept their toys, mostly teddy bears for girls and toy cars for boys, did so with grins on their faces while others timidly accepted their gifts.
The older children received books but in the end, they all seemed jovial, as they played with their newly owned toys in the various wards.
Their parents got toiletry parcels consisting of toothpaste, soap and a face cloth, among others.
“I am very happy. It’s the first time that me and my son are getting a Christmas gift from people we don’t know,” said Christofina Jakurama, who has been in the hospital for two weeks with her son Joe.
“I am happy because they gave our children gifts. At least the children will not feel too bad even if they are in hospital because they have toys and feel loved and cared for,” said Epifania Iipumbu, whose one-year-old son is in hospital with a burn wound.
Social worker at the Katutura hospital, Fransina Uukule, also commended the Association of Diplomatic Spouses in Namibia for showering the children with gifts.
“I’m very happy that they chose to treat the children at this hospital,” Uukule said.
President of the Association, Anne Gitau said, “We have received so much love from this country and we are giving back love to these children to wish them well and to say we are praying for them and wish them a quick recovery.”