Helena Ndume
Encyclopedia
Dr. Helena Ndume is a Namibia
n ophthalmologist, notable for her charitable work among sufferers of eye-related illnesses in Namibia
. To date, Dr. Ndume has ensured that some 30,000 blind Namibians have received eye surgery
and are fitted with intra-ocular lens implants free of charge.
She is currently the head of the Ophthalmology department at Windhoek Central Hospital
, Namibia’s largest hospital,
and is one of only six Namibian ophthalmologists.
Oshikoto Region
. She studied medicine in Germany
, before returning to Namibia in 1989 to complete a medical internship. She later returned to Germany, to specialise in ophthalmology at the University of Leipzig
.
She is married, and has one son.
, and set about starting a project in Namibia. In August 1997, the first eye camp was held at Rundu
, Kavango Region. Currently, four or five eye camps are held each year in different locations.
.
In 2009, Dr Ndume was honoured with a humanitarian award by the NRCS for her work in restoring sight to those blinded by cataracts.
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
n ophthalmologist, notable for her charitable work among sufferers of eye-related illnesses in Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
. To date, Dr. Ndume has ensured that some 30,000 blind Namibians have received eye surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
and are fitted with intra-ocular lens implants free of charge.
She is currently the head of the Ophthalmology department at Windhoek Central Hospital
Windhoek Central Hospital
Windhoek Central Hospital is a public hospital in Windhoek, Namibia. It is one of two State Hospitals in the city....
, Namibia’s largest hospital,
and is one of only six Namibian ophthalmologists.
Background
Helena Ndume was born in TsumebTsumeb
Tsumeb is a city of 15,000 inhabitants and the largest town in Oshikoto region in northern Namibia. Tsumeb is the home of the world-famous Tsumeb mine, and the "gateway to the north" of Namibia. It is the closest town to the Etosha National Park...
Oshikoto Region
Oshikoto Region
Oshikoto is one of the thirteen regions of Namibia. The northern part of the region is agricultural, whereas the main economic activities in the southern part are cattle rearing and mining...
. She studied medicine in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, before returning to Namibia in 1989 to complete a medical internship. She later returned to Germany, to specialise in ophthalmology at the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
.
She is married, and has one son.
Work in Namibia
In 1995, Dr Ndume was introduced to Surgical Eye Expeditions InternationalSurgical Eye Expeditions International
Surgical Eye Expeditions International is a nonprofit humanitarian organization based in Santa Barbara, California. Founded in 1974, SEE International connects volunteer ophthalmologists to host clinic sites worldwide to provide sight-restoring surgeries in communities that are overwhelmed with...
, and set about starting a project in Namibia. In August 1997, the first eye camp was held at Rundu
Rundu
Rundu is the capital of the Kavango Region, northern Namibia, on the border with Angola on the banks of the Okavango River about 1000 m above sea level. The place normally receives an annual average rainfall of , although in the 2010/2011 rainy season were measured.Rundu grows rapidly...
, Kavango Region. Currently, four or five eye camps are held each year in different locations.
Work with the Namibia Red Cross Society
For six years, from 2001 to 2007, Dr Ndume was vice chairperson of the Namibia Red Cross SocietyNamibia Red Cross Society
Namibia Red Cross Society also known as NRC was founded in 1992. It has its headquarters in Windhoek-External links:***...
.
In 2009, Dr Ndume was honoured with a humanitarian award by the NRCS for her work in restoring sight to those blinded by cataracts.