Health Care Initiatives
A range of health-related initiatives are carried out at the Soup Kitchen on Eileen Greene’s yearly visit to Namibia. Together with her Canadian nursing students and volunteer nurses who accompany her, the children of the Home of Good Hope Soup Kitchen are examined and undergo a Physical Assessment. World Health Child Growth Standards and Assessment Programs are used in these assessments. For example, weight, height and arm circumferences determine the nutritional and physical status of children.
Children who need treatment are taken by local taxi to the Children’s clinic at the Katutura Hospital.
Children’s Health Passports (a Namibian government health promotion program) are updated, and examined to ensure immunizations are current. If needed, immunizations are secured.
We educate all children age 8-15 about HIV/AIDS. The Canadian Nursing students borrow educational tools from the HIV/AIDS clinic at the Katutura Hospital—transmission modes and prevention of the virus are stressed.
We teach and practice effective hand washing and basic hygiene. For example, HOGH staff and volunteers ensure all the children wash their hands prior to eating.
Mental health and wellbeing is addressed through the consistently high quality of attention the children receive from paid employees and volunteers, in the process of fulfilling the purposes of the Home of Good Hope in Namibia Foundation. By being a part of the regular programming at Home of Good Hope, children can attain a level of overall health not otherwise possible. For example, structured sports activities serve to build confidence and physical strength, and provide an opportunity for learning through fun.
Activity packages prepared by Canadian nursing students (e.g., learning activities to reinforce age-appropriate health teaching and community development activities) help to promote overall wellbeing.
Physicians from a number or countries have volunteered their time. A physician who works with Doctors Without Borders visited the HOGH and stated that he felt it was the best-run “developing world” project that he had seen.