Sostenus Wilherm
Nearly 2 000 people took to the streets of Windhoek on Saturday for Namibia Health Plan’s (NHP) inaugural Pink Run.
Organisers urged Namibians to turn breast cancer awareness into action through screening, early detection and healthier lifestyles.
The event was held under the theme “Every reason to run”, and it brought together NHP members, employees, families, recreational runners and members of the public for 5km, 10km and 21km races in support of breast cancer awareness.
Beyond the pink shirts and ribbons, the event sought to encourage people to prioritise their health, seek medical attention when necessary and support loved ones affected by cancer.
NHP principal officer Dantago Garosas said the campaign was designed to challenge people to do more than participate in annual awareness activities.
“Every October, we see the pink ribbons, the pink shirts and the messages reminding us about breast cancer. Those conversations are important, but we cannot stop at awareness. We wanted to ask a more important question: what happens after the awareness? What action are we taking?” she said.
Garosas questioned whether people were making time for screening, encouraging their loved ones to look after their health and paying attention to changes in their bodies.
“The Pink Run is our way of saying that awareness should lead somewhere. It should lead to action,” she added.
As part of the initiative, female participants received free clinical breast cancer screenings in a private area after completing their races, giving practical meaning to the event’s message about early detection and preventative healthcare.
For some participants, the run was also an opportunity to honour family members who had died from cancer.
Florence Vahekeni, who participated in the 10km race, said the cause was deeply personal after losing her baby cousin to cancer.
“I lost my baby cousin to cancer, so I’m doing this for her, for baby Rauna. This cause is very close to my heart, and running is my way of honouring her memory,” she said.
Another participant, Jessica Nombanza, dedicated her run to her grandfather, describing the experience as both challenging and motivating.
“I ran for my grandfather. It was difficult at first, but it was fun getting back into it. It was also motivating to see so many people running for a cause,” she said.
Nombanza also praised NHP’s services, saying she had been a member for a long time and had never experienced poor service.
NHP corporate communications manager Tunohole Mungoba said the event was intended to ensure that the message of breast cancer awareness continued beyond the race and the month of October.
“The Pink Run gave people an opportunity to show their support, but we also wanted to remind them that breast health requires personal action,” she said.
“Whether you ran for yourself, for someone you love, or in memory of someone you have lost, we hope that reason stays with you beyond today. Take the time to prioritise your health, encourage someone close to you to get screened, and do not ignore changes in your body.”
Mungoba said every small action could make a difference, urging participants to carry the message into their homes and communities.
The event also highlighted NHP’s broader focus on promoting physical activity and preventative healthcare, rather than limiting healthcare to treatment after people become ill.
Garosas used the occasion to outline improvements in the medical aid scheme’s operations, saying claims processing and customer service had improved since April.
She said 87.35% of claims were being processed within seven days by October, up from 62.13% in April.
In August, NHP recorded a 97.48% call-answer rate, with an average waiting time of 13 seconds, she added.
Garosas further said NHP had appointed an additional 67 Namibians since April to strengthen its managed care operations.
Mungoba said NHP’s provider network included 369 participating general practitioners and 108 dentists, helping to strengthen access to healthcare for its members.
“We are grateful for each and every stakeholder that helps us help our members,” she said
