A maternity waiting home in Namibia’s Kunene region is giving pregnant women from remote areas a safer chance at childbirth. Located near Opuwo District Hospital, the facility hosts up to 40 women, offering shelter, nutrition, and access to skilled care. Women like Kuliua Maundu and teenage mother Uejaorune Tjiposa stay there to ensure timely access to hospital services. Originally built in 2013 and renovated in 2023 with UNFPA and Japanese government support, the center helps reduce maternal and newborn deaths by bridging healthcare access gaps in rural areas.
Compiled from: “The Waiting Game: How a maternity home in Namibia is offering women and newborns a better chance at surviving childbirth,” UNFPA, May 27, 2025.