– Emilia Ananias-Nantinda behind Ondangwa and Oniipa’s Lifesaving Pharmacies
Mallex Shipanga
Emilia Ananias-Nantinda, a pharmacist and entrepreneur, has carved a path from the small village of Okapya in the Omusati Region to owning two thriving pharmacies in Ondangwa and Oniipa.
As a businesswoman, pharmacist, mother, and wife, she has become a beacon of hope and inspiration for her community and beyond.
“My childhood was like any other child in the village those days. We played amagoes and uma, fetched water, collected firewood, pounded mahangu, and more. Despite the fact that I lost both parents at a very young age, I believe my guardians did their best to give me a normal childhood,” she continued.
She has over ten years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, ranging from hospital pharmacy to retail pharmacy to wholesale pharmacy.
In her early years, Ananias-Nantinda was greatly inspired by her aunt, Beatha Shivute.
“I have childhood memories of her working so hard selling secondhand clothing. She faced so many challenges as a young businesswoman who had to balance being a wife and a mother to us all,” she said.
Ananias-Nantinda was also inspired by her fourth-grade teacher, Nangombe Silas, who introduced sports to the school.
“I remember our team not having matching sportswear, among other things, which made us feel inferior, but ‘Mr. Katana’ was always cheering us on, encouraging us, and telling us to always focus on the goal no matter the circumstances,” she said.
Ananias-Nantinda explained that both Shivute and Silas shaped her into the woman she is today.
An alumna of the I-Care Health Training Institute and Rhodes University, Nantinda holds qualifications in enrolled nursing and midwifery/accoucher as well as pharmacy.
She now owns two pharmacies, Olupandu Pharmacy in Ondangwa and Oshigambo Pharmacy in Oniipa.
Ananias-Nantinda explained that the need to combine her pharmaceutical expertise with her entrepreneurial ambitions inspired her to start her first pharmacy, Olupandu Pharmacy.
“The fulfilment that comes with being able to source a much-needed medicine for a patient within a short period of time or when a patient comes back saying they feel much better after I assisted them, among others, are my sources of daily inspiration,” she said.
Her pharmacies have a major impact on her communities.
Ananias-Nantinda explained that she chose to operate her pharmacy in Oniipa due to the distance patients had to travel to find retail pharmacies before Oshigambo Pharmacy opened.
“This did not only have financial implications for patients paying for transport; it also meant that at times patients ended up returning home late and risking their safety,” she said.
Starting her business, however, was no simple feat.
“I used my savings from previous work, asked some family members to assist with whatever they could, and did locums (temporary work to fill in for absent pharmacists) for seven months,” Ananias-Nantinda said.
Even after opening, she faced slow client turnout.
“I opened the pharmacy and thought, ‘Hey, this is my hometown, surely we will thrive here.’ And to my surprise, we had no clients,” Ananias-Nantinda said.
“But surely, one by one, the clients started coming in,” she continued.
In a male-dominated industry, Ananias-Nantinda encountered gender biases, with some doubting her capabilities or commitment to her business.
Yet, she rose above these challenges, proving that determination and competence know no gender.
“The assumption that as a woman ‘I am less capable.’ And that I am expected to not be as ‘committed to my business’ as my male counterparts,” Nantinda said.
But, as a resilient businesswoman, Ananias-Nantinda continues to overcome any challenges thrown her way.
In the near future, she has plans to introduce new services.
“We are always looking at new ways to improve service delivery to our people. So, hopefully, we will introduce complementary services based on the needs of our clients, the ever-changing trends, and technology,” Nantinda said.
To aspiring entrepreneurs, she offers a message of hope and encouragement.
“Just start. If it works the first time around, great! If not, then you try again because now you are not starting from scratch. You have to believe in that dream more than anyone else because only you and God have that insight,” she continued.
Nantinda also encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to find a business mentor.
“There are so many aspects of business that only a person in business can teach you,” she explained.
