Kalkfeld widower's loss sparks N$4m ambulance donation

In 2024, Reverend Ngeno Nakamela's wife died in Kalkfeld after she missed two medical appointments because no ambulance was available to take her to Otjiwarongo State Hospital.

On Monday, that loss became the catalyst for a N$4 million donation of two ambulances to rural healthcare services by the Namport Social Investment Fund (NSIF).

One ambulance has been permanently allocated to Kalkfeld, where residents have long depended on ambulances travelling more than 60 kilometres from Otjiwarongo during medical emergencies.

The second vehicle will be deployed by the health ministry to a region facing an equally urgent need.

Testimony of grief

The decision to fund the ambulances followed an appeal submitted by the Mee Ndiku & Rev. Ngeno Nakamela Trust in October last year, highlighting the lack of dedicated emergency medical transport in Kalkfeld.

Speaking at the handover ceremony in Windhoek on Monday, NSIF chairperson Amos Shiyuka said the trust's request detailed how long travel distances had repeatedly turned medical emergencies into tragedies.

"That letter did not read like an ordinary funding request. It read like a testimony," Shiyuka said.

By the time an ambulance finally became available for Nakamela's wife, it was too late, he said. "By the time an ambulance finally became available, it was too late. That story stayed with us. It is the kind of story that no community should have to carry."

Shiyuka said the Kalkfeld ambulance would serve as both a practical intervention and a lasting tribute. "We trust that this ambulance will stand as a living memory to your wife and as a permanent safeguard for the people of Kalkfeld."

Shiyuka said the donation reflects the fund's commitment to improving access to life-saving healthcare services, particularly in underserved communities. "It is really all about saving lives and assisting our communities," he said.

Shiyuka highlighted the broader impact of the NSIF, which has invested more than N$100 million in community development projects across all 14 regions since its establishment.

The Kalkfeld ambulance will operate through the local clinic under the health ministry, while the Mee Ndiku & Rev. Ngeno Nakamela Trust has committed to covering its servicing, maintenance and general upkeep, helping ensure its long-term availability for the community.

Every minute counts

Receiving the donation, health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao said Namibia's vast geography continues to challenge emergency medical services.

"When a mother goes into obstructed labour in a remote settlement, or a father suffers a stroke many kilometres from the nearest hospital, the distance between them and medical care becomes the measure of their survival," she said.

Luvindao added that during the 2025/26 financial year, the ministry had already expanded its fleet by procuring and distributing 36 fully equipped ambulances.

She said plans are in place to acquire another 30 ambulances during the 2026/27 financial year.

She also announced plans to establish a national air ambulance service to improve access to emergency care in remote areas.

Describing the NSIF contribution as an example of meaningful corporate social investment, Luvindao urged more private sector organisations to partner with government in addressing healthcare challenges. "The health of Namibia is our collective responsibility. We invite others to follow the blueprint set by Namport through structured and accountable partnerships that address specific community needs," she said.