Palliative Care Namibia

01/08/2026

No One Warned Me About the Secondary Losses

When someone dies, we expect to grieve them.

What we don't expect are the dozens—sometimes hundreds—of smaller losses that quietly follow.

No one warned me that I would also grieve...
..having no one to share ordinary moments with.
..losing the person who knew my history better than anyone else.
..making every decision alone.
..holidays that would never feel the same.
..inside jokes that no one else would understand.
..the future we had planned together.
..the sound of hearing my name spoken in their voice.
..the loss of feeling like part of a couple.
..the person I used to be before grief changed me.

These are called secondary losses, and they can be just as painful as the primary loss itself.

They're often invisible to everyone else.

Friends see the funeral is over and assume the hardest part has passed.

But secondary losses keep unfolding...

Weeks later.

Months later.

Even years later.

Each new milestone, holiday, life event, or ordinary Tuesday can uncover another loss you never imagined you'd have to grieve.

If you've ever wondered why your grief seems to keep changing...

Or why you're suddenly devastated by something that seems "small"...

You're not grieving too much.

You're discovering another piece of what was lost.

And that's a normal part of loving someone deeply.

Be patient with yourself.

Grief isn't just learning to live without the person.

It's learning to live with all the losses their absence created. ❤️

28/07/2026

The Cancer Association of Namibia (WO30), through our Palliative Care Namibia programme, is proud to announce that we have secured sustainable funding through our Financial Assistance Programme to admit State cancer patients who would otherwise be unable to access private palliative and hospice care due to the absence of medical aid or health insurance.

Our House Zietsman Care Facility in Windhoek and House Johannesson Care Facility in Swakopmund are both registered Hospice Care Medical Centres, providing compassionate, high-quality care to patients with life-limiting illnesses.

In addition, House Zietsman offers a specialised General Sub-Acute Care Wing, providing comprehensive care for patients with a wide range of medical conditions beyond cancer.

This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to ensuring that quality palliative and hospice care is accessible to all Namibians, regardless of their financial circumstances.

For more information or to enquire about our services, please contact our team at [email protected] or call 081 953 7740.

"We extend our sincere appreciation to all our programme partners and donors who have made this vision a reality. Together we CAN inspire hope, activate change, and impact lives," said Rolf Hansen, Chief Executive Officer
Cancer Association of Namibia (WO30).

27/07/2026

Expanded Frail Care Services.

The Cancer Association of Namibia (WO30), through our Palliative Care Namibia (PCN) programme, is pleased to announce that, following numerous requests from the public, long-term Frail Care services for medically diagnosed patients will be available from August 2026.

Our care programmes are not limited to cancer patients.
We provide compassionate, professional care for individuals living with a wide range of serious medical conditions and diagnoses, ensuring that those in need have access to the appropriate level of support.

Our facilities include:

📍 House Zietsman – Windhoek
- Sub-Acute Care
- Hospice Care
- End-of-Life Care
- Dedicated Garden Wing for long term Supportive Frail Care in private shared rooms (2 persons sharing, only 3 units available).

📍 House Johannesson – Swakopmund
- Hospice Care
- End-of-Life Care
- Private shared rooms dedicated to long term Frail Care (2 persons sharing, only 1 unit available).

Whether you require short-term sub-acute recovery, long-term frail care, hospice support, or compassionate end-of-life care, our multidisciplinary team is committed to providing dignified, patient-centred care in a safe and supportive environment.

For care plan options, admissions, medical aid authorisation, or to enquire about assistance for eligible state cancer patients through our Patient Financial Assistance Programme, please contact us at [email protected] or 081 953 7740.

Together, we Inspire Hope, Activate Change and Impact Lives.

27/07/2026

26/07/2026

In caring and respectful memory of Mr Hermanus Diedricks.

It was our honour to be part of the final mile of the way during Oom Mansie's admission with House Zietsman.

May God bestow love and care to the family and loved ones, during this very sad time.

Rus Sag, Oom Diedricks 🙏

26/07/2026

Met dankbaarheid om n verskil te kon gemaak het, en opregte waardering dat die vertroue in ons span geplaas is.
Ons groet en neem afskeid van liefste Tannie Judy Isaaks.
Mag God die familie en vriende omvou in hierdie tyd van hartseer en n lewe aanpak sonder hul kosbare Moeder 🙏

24/07/2026

Expanded Frail Care Services.

The Cancer Association of Namibia (WO30), through our Palliative Care Namibia (PCN) programme, is pleased to announce that, following numerous requests from the public, long-term Frail Care services for medically diagnosed patients will be available from August 2026.

Our care programmes are not limited to cancer patients.
We provide compassionate, professional care for individuals living with a wide range of serious medical conditions and diagnoses, ensuring that those in need have access to the appropriate level of support.

Our facilities include:

📍 House Zietsman – Windhoek
- Sub-Acute Care
- Hospice Care
- End-of-Life Care
- Dedicated Garden Wing for long term Supportive Frail Care in private shared rooms (2 persons sharing, only 3 units available).

📍 House Johannesson – Swakopmund
- Hospice Care
- End-of-Life Care
- Private shared rooms dedicated to long term Frail Care (2 persons sharing, only 1 unit available).

Whether you require short-term sub-acute recovery, long-term frail care, hospice support, or compassionate end-of-life care, our multidisciplinary team is committed to providing dignified, patient-centred care in a safe and supportive environment.

For care plan options, admissions, medical aid authorisation, or to enquire about assistance for eligible state cancer patients through our Patient Financial Assistance Programme, please contact us at [email protected] or 081 953 7740.

Together, we Inspire Hope, Activate Change and Impact Lives.

21/07/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

Qualifying donations to the Cancer Association of Namibia (WO30) may be deductible for income tax purposes under Section 17(1)(s) of the Income Tax Act, 1981 (Act 24 of 1981). The Association issues the prescribed donation certificate to qualifying donors, enabling them to claim the allowable deduction when submitting their income tax return, subject to the provisions of the Act and applicable tax rules.

Speak to us at [email protected]

16/07/2026

WHO report highlights cancer inequalities and survival gaps in Namibia and Southern Africa

Staff Reporter

A NEW World Health Organization (WHO) report has highlighted growing cancer inequalities worldwide, revealing major disparities in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and survival outcomes, including significant differences in breast cancer survival rates among women in Namibia.

The Global Status Report on Cancer 2026: The Future We Choose Together provides a comprehensive assessment of the global cancer burden, examining trends in cancer incidence, mortality, survival, risk factors and health system responses.

The report warns that cancer is becoming an increasing global crisis, with the greatest growth in cases expected in low- and middle-income countries, where health systems continue to face challenges in providing equitable access to prevention, early detection, treatment, palliative care and survivorship services.

For Namibia, the report highlights findings from the African Breast Cancer – Disparities in Outcomes (ABC-DO) study, which shows significant differences in five-year breast cancer survival rates among racial groups.

According to the report, white women in Namibia have a five-year breast cancer survival rate of 84%, compared to 69% among mixed-race women and 45% among black women.

The report links these differences to delays in diagnosis and access to treatment. It found that the median diagnostic interval — the period between first experiencing symptoms and starting treatment — was 60 days for black Namibian women, compared to 21 days for non-black women.

Differences were also observed in treatment completion rates, with approximately 43% of non-black Namibians completing their full course of treatment, compared to about 24% of black Namibians in the dataset analysed.

The WHO report said these disparities demonstrate that cancer outcomes are influenced not only by medical advances, but also by social and economic factors affecting access to healthcare.

Across Southern Africa, the report identifies similar challenges. In South Africa, breast cancer survival differences remain evident, with five-year survival rates of 54% among mixed-race women and 46% among black women. In Zambia and Uganda, survival rates are reported at 37% and 31%, respectively.

The report also highlights challenges in cancer diagnosis, citing a Botswana study where 30% of newly diagnosed lymphoma cases were reclassified after review by reference centres, with diagnostic errors linked to poorer survival outcomes.

Despite the challenges, the report points to progress in childhood cancer care, noting Zambia’s participation in the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines, which aims to improve access to essential medicines and address shortages affecting treatment.

The WHO called for stronger cancer responses through three strategic shifts: improving health system capabilities, strengthening protections against financial hardship, and ensuring better value by focusing on outcomes that matter to patients, including survival and quality of life.

The report emphasises the need for integrated, people-centred cancer care, universal health coverage, stronger monitoring systems and greater involvement of communities affected by cancer.

The Cancer Association of Namibia said the report serves as a reminder that cancer cases are increasing, but urged communities not to allow fear and misinformation to create stigma around the disease.

“While we must do all in our power to treat the disease, we should NOT allow fear and misinformation to separate us from humanity,” the association said, adding that support, care and compassion can make a significant difference for people affected by cancer.

Namibia was also recognised in the report for having one of the highest levels of domestic government investment in non-communicable diseases in Africa, with relatively lower reliance on out-of-pocket and external funding compared to many neighbouring countries.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the future of cancer control would depend on collective choices and ensuring that people with lived experience of cancer are included in decision-making.

“The future of cancer control will be shaped by the choices we make together,” he said.

Photos: WHO/Pexels

16/07/2026

Palliative Care Fund.

Because we believe in access to compassionate and dignified palliative care for all, we established the Palliative Care Fund to assist patients without a medical insurance.

State patients are referred by their respective Medical Doctors from Ministry of Health and Social Services-Namibia to our Head: Medical Services, Dr Gerrit Keyter at Palliative Care Namibia, for clinical review and admission planning. This collaboration between the Dr AB May Cancer Care Centre of Windhoek Central Hospital and the Cancer Association of Namibia impacts many lives.

Your support enables us to be the hope, where often hope feels lost.