Youth flock to Rundu NAPPA clinic for vital health services

The Namibia Planned Parenthood Association (NAPPA) clinic in Rundu is seeing growing demand for its services, as more young people in the Kavango East region turn to the facility for free sexual and reproductive healthcare.

Established in 2014 to provide youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services in a private and accessible setting, the clinic offers care such as family planning, HIV testing and counselling and treatment for sexually transmitted infections.

Over the years, perceptions of the clinic’s work and outreach programme have shifted from being misunderstood to being recognised as a trusted space for young people.

HIV testing and counselling practitioner David Kudumo says when he joined the clinic in 2017, community uptake was still low.

“When we started, we didn’t have many clients. Some people misunderstood what we do here,” he said.

That has since changed since then, largely due to consistent outreach programmes in schools and surrounding communities. Kudumo explained that health education campaigns focusing on life skills, HIV prevention and family planning have played a key role in improving awareness.

As a result, the clinic now primarily serves young people between the ages of 14 and 35, many of whom actively seek services ranging from HIV testing and counselling to pregnancy testing, family planning and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.

The facility has also expanded its services over time.

While it previously referred HIV-positive clients to other centres, it now initiates antiretroviral therapy (ART) on site. In addition, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has recently been introduced for individuals at risk of HIV infection.

A safe space

Kudumo noted that the clinic’s youth-friendly approach has made it particularly appealing, with some clients opting to transfer from other health facilities.

“Young people are now comfortable coming here. They feel free,” he said.

Despite these gains, the clinic continues to face operational challenges, particularly a lack of reliable transport. Outreach programmes, which are central to reaching schools and remote communities, are often affected.

“Transport is a challenge. We sometimes share a vehicle with the ministry, and without it, outreach cannot take place,” Kudumo explained.

This also affects the collection of medical supplies, as strict regulations prevent the transport of medication using private vehicles.

While support from government ministries helps sustain operations, limited logistics remain a constraint. Even so, the clinic continues to expand its reach, with growing community awareness reflecting its impact as a vital youth health service point in the region.