Namibia has achieved another milestone in medical innovation with the successful completion of the country’s first-ever hair transplant surgery.
The pioneering procedure was carried out at Aesthetics Centre Olympia (ACO), part of the Emoneko Group, on 26 September 2024, marking a new chapter in Namibia’s healthcare journey. A skilled team of Namibian medical professionals, including Dr. Natasha Slabbert, Dr. LaToya Mwoombola-Hamutenya, and aesthetician Esmarie Smit, were extensively trained by world-renowned hair transplant surgeon, Dr. Pradip R. Atodaria, from Surat, India.
This groundbreaking achievement highlights Namibia’s commitment to providing cutting-edge medical treatments locally, reducing the need for patients to seek costly and timeconsuming treatment abroad. The team underwent specialised training in the advanced Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) technique. This minimally invasive method of hair restoration involves the precise extraction and implantation of individual hair follicles, yielding natural-looking results with minimal scarring.
The success of this procedure was made possible by the collective expertise of the local team, supported by registered nurses, Jacobina Nampala and Armas Shifotoka, who were trained as assistant technicians. Dr. Atodaria’s 27 years of experience in hair transplant surgery and his in-depth knowledge of hair restoration played a pivotal role in equipping the Namibian team with the latest techniques to address common causes of hair loss, such as androgenic alopecia and traction alopecia.
The successful first surgery involved the transplantation of 1,200 hair grafts, representing a significant step forward in offering solutions for hair loss right here in Namibia. Further transplants followed in the following days, with up to 3000 grafts being performed on a patient over 3 consecutive days.
The introduction of hair transplant services in Namibia not only empowers local professionals but also offers new hope to Namibians suffering from hair loss. Hair loss can profoundly impact self-esteem and emotional well-being. This service provides a muchneeded solution for patients seeking effective treatments without the need to travel abroad.
“Our goal is to ensure that Namibians have access to world-class medical procedures at home,” said Dr. Jonathan Joffe, ophthalmologist and owner of the medical facility at Olympia Eye Laser Centre, where the procedures took place. “By training local professionals, we are also building long-term capacity for high-quality care and paving the way for Namibia to become a hub for medical tourism.” The availability of this service in Namibia also holds significant potential to attract patients from neighboring countries, positioning Namibia as a destination for high-quality, affordable medical care.