‘Miracle doctor’ scoops international accolades

INTERNATIONALLY renowned Namibian ophthalmologist Dr Helena Ndume recently scooped two major accolades – the Lions Club International Humanitarian Award and the Forbes Woman Africa Social Impact Award.

Ndume is a partner to Surgical Eye Expeditions (SEE) International, which provides accessible vision care services to disadvantaged communi- ties nationally and in the United States.

SEE International is a non-profit humanitarian organisation based in California.

Ndume told The Namibian that the awards are not about her individual achievements but the achievements of a team of hard-working mem- bers of the blindness prevention programme.

She said the awards have further inspired the team to continue its blindness prevention work in Namibia and the entire Africa.

“This achievement is about teamwork, starting with the overall leadership of the government, in particular the health ministry that created an enabling environment for the blindness preven- tion programme,” Ndume said.

She also thanked the ministry of defence for flying the programme’s sensitive equipment, as well as the finance ministry for waiving all taxes on donations received.

An amount of US$250 000 (Approximately N$3,7 million) from the Lions Club International Humanitarian Award will help the national pro- gramme fight against preventable blindness in many ways, Ndume said.

“It will help add other consumables and ma- chines needed to carry out operations, and the donations will also help pay for the difference in the gaps we have, and send one of the doctors to specialise in ophthalmology in Cape Town.”

Ndume said despite the Forbes award not be- ing of monetary value, it is equally appreciated. In an interview with Desert Radio, Ndume

described herself as a product of society.“I grew up in a small mining town (Tsumeb), it was a community upbringing and that made me strong. In the community, all the elders were like your second parents, so even if you did something wrong they would give you a hiding and report you to your parents, who would give

you another hiding,” Ndume said.She initially wanted to be a fashion designer,

and being a medical doctor was her second choice after Nahas Angula told her the country would need medical doctors after independence.

Ndume said the Namibian blindness preven- tion team works very hard and makes many sacrifices to take their services closer to those

who need them most, and it’s very heartening when their

efforts are recognised. “These two awards have further inspired me to continue striv- ing to build a team of committed young men and women that will continue fighting relent- lessly on this mission,” Ndume

said.