FirstRand Namibia recently handed over clinical equipment and medical consumables valued at N$136,328 to UNAM Cares as well as N$500,000 towards equipment for the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Namibia Veterinary Academic Hospital.
This is part of the FirstRand Namibia Foundation’s commitment towards driving systemic change in education, delivering skills development, supporting health promotion, encouraging sports and arts and culture, and providing environmental protection in Namibia.
“With this handover, our aim is to strengthen communities by priori¬tising their needs and perspectives in the devel¬opment of social and economic advancement and supporting community services and welfare” FirstRand Namibia Foundation Trustee Dr. Magda Awases said.
The FirstRand Foundation in collaboration with a consortium of corporates also supported UNAM Cares with a grant of N$600 000 last year to ensure that there is enough financial resources to implement their planned activities as part of the Vaccines for Hope Project.
While delivering his speech on behalf of UNAM Vice Chancellor, Professor Frednard Gideon highlighted the importance of the donation adding that “the financial assistance from the consortium of corporates enabled UNAM through UNAM Cares’ Vaccination Project in collaboration with the School on Nursing and Directorate of Student Affairs to rollout health promotion roadshows, social mobilization, and administration of 2 COVID-19 Vaccine in 12 regions of Namibia.”
Dr Rachel Freeman, Head of UNAM Cares expressed gratitude for the support further emphasizing that the Vaccines for Hope Grant enabled UNAM Cares to broaden its umbrella to positively impact lives during the COVID-19 pandemic and to empower communities with knowledge and skills on how to protect themselves against COVID-19 by making the right choice to get vaccinated.
“The Vaccines for Hope Grant towards UNAM Cares Health Promotion campaign and COVID-19 Vaccination Assistance Clinics at the different campuses contributed majorly to the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, Goal # 3 on promoting Good Health and Well-being. The sponsorship through the Vaccines for Hope Grant made it possible for UNAM Cares to conduct mobile vaccination clinics, which positively impacted the country towards reaching more than 20% of the Namibian population to be vaccinated in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS)” she said.
The achievements through the Vaccines for Hope Grant include the training of 21 Nurses as Vaccinators (10 are UNAM Nursing Lecturers in the School of Nursing and 1 Nurse from UNAM Clinic), while 10 nurses trained were UNAM alumnis. UNAM Cares conducted 12 x health promotion roadshows with more than 4500 Namibians in 12 regions (Hardap, Khomas, Erongo, Omaheke, ⁄⁄Karas, Omusati, Kunene, Kavango-East, Zambezi, Oshana, Oshikoto and Otjozondjupa regions) country wide. They also managed to vaccinate a total number of 2224 people during August –December 2021.