My health in my own language
Available in eight indigenous languages
The special guide focuses, amongst others, on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS.
In 2019, a 13-year-old girl underwent a caesarean section and admitted to medical staff that she had never heard of contraception.This shocking reality has supported the urgent need for accessible and, more importantly, culturally relevant health education in the country.
The realsation that no woman or girl in Namibia should ever manage her health in silence or without any knowledge to protect herself would eventually lead to a health booklet available in eight indigenous languages.
Emily’s Health is the first of its kind for women’s health and is available in Oshiwambo, Otjiherero, Afrikaans, Khoekhoegowab, Rukwangali, Setswana, Silozi and English.
This groundbreaking guide covers topics such as HIV/AIDS, breast health, sexually transmitted diseases and contraception and helps women and young girls, regardless of where they are, to make informed decisions about their health.
The newly appointed Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Esperance Luvindao, and Valeria Chomore wrote the book and the Osaat Africa Health Foundation launched it.
The latter is a non-profit organisation founded by Luvindao in 2019 and focuses on sexual reproductive and women's health. The main goal is to ensure that women and young girls in the country, regardless of their socio-economic status, have access to the necessary information to take control of their own health.
With health outreach and free medical advice thanks to the help of more than 100 volunteers, women and young girls learn more about their health in their native language using, among other things, comics.
About 10 000 copies of Emily's Health will be distributed, while health education workshops will be held monthly by volunteers. This is to ensure that young Namibian girls and women have access to clear and reliable health information in their own language.
Osaat Africa Health Foundation is also working on the country’s first dictionary for women’s health to ensure that future generations always have the words they need to understand and talk about their health. – [email protected]