Women’s Voices: Plural, Varied, Amplified
A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of the Free State (UFS) found that sanitary pads and pantyliners sold in South Africa contained endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including phthalates, parabens and bisphenols. Every sanitary pad and liner tested contained at least two of these chemicals, raising concerns about long-term exposure and reproductive health risks. We often say when South Africa sneezes, we catch a cold across the region. So the… Keep Reading
Public healthcare in Namibia is not perfect. It is stretched and under-resourced, but also staffed by people who are trying. to provide care, often within tight systems. These are things I wish more patients knew before walking into a clinic or hospital for reproductive health concerns. Firstly, you are entitled to respectful care. Something I often tell family members and friends is to ask questions, lots of questions. You have… Keep Reading
Severe period pain is often dismissed the world over. What makes the Namibian context even more jarring is that not only do we have an under diagnosis problem as a continent, the discussion around what constitutes severe period pain is also had in a vacuum in the mainstream. As a result, women are being told to simply endure or growing up being told that it is “normal”. But pain that… Keep Reading
A few weeks ago, I found myself on the controversial and influential local gossip page, Omajuices. There is much to be said about the social power of gossip, but those are ruminations for another platform. For those who are unfamiliar with the modus operandi of the page, Omajuices functions in one of two ways. The page’s moderator can prompt a public dialogue based on popular culture or news, and invite… Keep Reading
ARLANA SHIKONGO The discourse surrounding sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) predominantly centres on women, but it is imperative to acknowledge that men have an equally significant role to play in advancing SRHR. Erich Waly Hanadaob, a senior registered nurse at the Namibia Planned Parenthood Association, offers valuable insights into why it is crucial to engage men in efforts toward gender equality and reproductive health. Hanadaob asserts that it is… Keep Reading
ARLANA SHIKONGO Namibia is a nation deeply rooted in cultural traditions and religious beliefs which often influence how individuals navigate their day-to-day lives. Within this context, discussions regarding sexuality and reproductive health bear the profound imprint of culture, tradition and religion, significantly impacting the wellbeing of individuals and communities. According to Mirjam Josef, a medical doctor specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology, there is a pervasive silence in discourse around sexual… Keep Reading
ARLANA SHIKONGO The intricate relationship between our mental states, our bodies, and how society perceives human sexuality remains an overlooked facet of sexual and reproductive health, however, psychology experts say our understanding of mental wellbeing deeply influences our approach to sexuality and sexual health. Emerita Malanguka, a seasoned clinical psychologist at the Care2Mind practice in Windhoek, delves into the mind-body connection within the context of sexuality and mental health. She… Keep Reading
Namibia’s law states that abortion is legal in cases of rape, incest, or where continuing the pregnancy would threaten the mental or physical health of the mother, or the life of the mother or foetus. The Maputo Protocol, which should form part of Namibia’s domestic law, says the same thing. It also says that African women have the right to choose how many children they have, when they have them,… Keep Reading
– Zorena Jantze SITTING by the reception desk of the Rights Not Rescue Trust’s (RNRT) office, Daniel Ashanti Koos spends the quiet winter morning basking in the little sunlight that streams in through the front window. The transwoman, who is currently in the midst of a court battle, was last year thrust into the limelight when a video of her being tied up to a chair and then whipped by… Keep Reading
– Thembi Kandanga Women have come a long way in gaining and maintaining their financial autonomy, but the playing field is far from level. A woman’s ability to make decisions about their money – this is the premise of financial autonomy for women. I truly believe that can only be achieved through financial literacy for young girls and women. Focusing literacy efforts on girls in high school and university is… Keep Reading
– Nghidimondjila Hashikutuva On 11 June 2020, psychological counsellor and activist Beauty Boois started a petition on change.org, demanding the legalisation of abortion on demand in Namibia, and the liberalisation of abortion laws in the country. However, despite its success (the petition received over 60,000 signatures in less than a month), and the extensive nationwide debate on reproductive rights and justice that followed, Namibia still has not seen any legal… Keep Reading
– Nghidimondjila Hashikutuva “One day during our rotation, a lecturer pulled away my scrubs without my permission, to see my tattoo. Luckily, I was wearing a t-shirt underneath, so he was not able to see anything,” recounts a medical student at the University of Namibia (UNAM) School of Medicine. *Josephine, now a sixth year student at UNAM, says that at first, she did not “think too much of it” until… Keep Reading
