WINDHOEK, Namibia – A workshop in Windhoek this September has equipped Namibian healthcare workers with critical skills to manage postpartum haemorrhage, a leading cause of maternal death in the country. The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other partners, organized a Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) Training of Trainers workshop from 7 to 9 September 2026.
Fifty-four nurses, midwives, and doctors from all 14 regions of Namibia attended the event, which focused on PPH, or excessive bleeding after childbirth. PPH is one of the leading causes of maternal deaths in Namibia. While the country has made progress, reducing its maternal mortality ratio from over 450 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 139 in 2024, obstetric haemorrhage remains the second leading cause of maternal deaths, accounting for 16 per cent.
Empowering Health Workers Through Practical Skills
The workshop, supported by the European Union through the Global Gateway and Safe Birth Africa project, aimed to strengthen the capabilities of Namibian health workers. Ndapewoshali Shixungileni, an Advanced Midwife and Neonatal Nurse at Walvis Bay District Hospital, attended the training and reported a significant boost in her confidence. When I come to work each day, I feel empowered and prepared for any emergency we may encounter in the ward,
she said.
Learning and Sharing Life-Saving Techniques
For Shixungileni, a key highlight of the training was mastering the assembly and application of a uterine balloon tamponade (UBT), an instrument designed to assist in controlling bleeding that occurs after childbirth. The most memorable part was practising how to assemble and use the UBT,
she stated. Following the workshop, Shixungileni returned to Walvis Bay District Hospital and shared her new knowledge with colleagues, briefing them on the practical skills needed to prepare for and manage PPH emergencies.
A Continued Commitment to Maternal Health
UNFPA continues to collaborate with the MoHSS to improve maternal health and sexual and reproductive health services. In 2025, UNFPA Namibia and MoHSS conducted training for 130 health workers across the Ohangwena, Omaheke, Kunene, and Zambezi regions. This training addressed adolescent health, gender-based violence (GBV) response, and postpartum and post-abortion family planning, while also educating health workers on relevant policies and laws to enhance service delivery for women and young people.
