Kazetjitindire Angelika Muharukhua maternity is a waiting home in Namibia’s Kunene region that offers expectant mothers and their newborns a better chance at survival, helping to reduce maternal deaths and improve health outcomes in one of the country’s most underserved areas.
Supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the maternity home sits adjacent to the Opuwo District Hospital, offering free accommodation, skilled care, and nutritional support to women nearing delivery — many of whom travel long distances from remote villages.
Namibia has seen a gradual decline in maternal deaths in recent years. However, the current rate still stands at nearly double the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of no more than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.
Built in 2013 by the World Health Organization with European Union funding, the facility was recently refurbished in 2023 with support from the Government of Japan. The home features shared sleeping quarters, a kitchen, a dining area, and can house up to 40 women. Skilled midwives are present to provide care, monitor high-risk pregnancies, and refer mothers to the adjacent hospital when necessary.
The facility also includes a vegetable garden developed in partnership with the World Food Programme. The garden not only provides nutritious food for the women but also teaches them sustainable farming skills they can use once they return home.
Seventeen-year-old Mukaamakove is among the many young women benefiting from the maternity home. She traveled over 50 kilometers from her village of Ohandungu to the facility.
“My parents sent me here because they knew I would be safer,” she said. “At home, we don’t have transport to reach the hospital if something goes wrong.”
Her story reflects a broader challenge in the Kunene region, where over 20% of girls become pregnant during adolescence — one of the highest rates in the country, according to the Ministry of Health and Social Services. Factors such as child marriage, limited access to contraception, gender inequality, and rugged terrain that hinders access to medical services contribute to this reality.
Adolescent pregnancies carry higher risks of complications, including obstetric fistula and pre-eclampsia, making access to professional medical care all the more vital. Many girls also face disrupted education and reduced economic opportunities, further entrenching cycles of poverty and inequality.
Uahingaimue, also 17 and expecting her first child, shared similar concerns: “It’s my first baby, and I’m nervous. But at least I’m close to the hospital if I need help.”
UNFPA Representative in Namibia, Erika Goldson, emphasized the importance of maternity waiting homes as a bridge to safer childbirth.
“Supporting maternity waiting homes is not just about the infrastructure — it’s about protecting the right to safe childbirth,” said Goldson. “They are a lifeline for women in remote areas, helping to close the gap in maternal health and bring dignity, safety, and equity closer to where it’s needed most.”
UNFPA’s commitment to maternal health extends beyond the waiting homes. In 2024, the agency donated vital medical equipment — including ultrasound machines, heart rate monitors, bed screens, and gynecological couches — to maternity wards in hospitals across the Kunene, Ohangwena, and Zambezi regions.
For girls like Uahingaimue, the waiting home offers more than just a place to rest — it provides hope and reassurance.
“This time, I am doing everything I can to make sure my baby arrives safely,” she said. “And I hope more women will do the same.”