UNAM pays a visit to Katutura old age home

Simon Namesho
The Community and Mental Health Department from UNAM’s School of Nursing and Public Health (SoNPH) recently paid a visit to the Katutura old age home.
The home, which is located on Richard Tjiramba Street accommodates elderly people from all parts of the city.
The departmental staff focused on health education on scabies, since the infectious disease has caused outbreaks in various regions in Namibia, including Khomas. The outreach was deemed necessary as the disease thrives in crowded places, including nursing and old age homes.
The group also donated bath soap and winter socks, where after department staff shared a meal and socialized with the elderly.
Although the home receives various visits and donations, it was noted that hardly any visitors mingle with the residents, so the department opted to bridge this gap. Not only did this make the residents feel loved and appreciated, but it also provided a much-needed boost to their quality of life.
Twenty-four residents and four staff attended the activity which was held in the home’s conference room. A follow-up visit to determine the impact of this engagement will be conducted shortly.
Overall, the engagement was a success. The home residents thanked the UNAM for its dedication to the community. They shared how joyous it was for them to share lunch with the department and how delicious the meal was. They also asked that UNAM considers more of these activities as they convey much-needed information to the elderly, especially since they have limited contact with the community.