My experience at the Lifeline Clinic

My time at the Lifeline Clinic at Pos 3 in Namibia has been a life changing experience, writes medical volunteer, Melanie Balestra...

I am a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from the United States where most of my young patients have problems with obesity and develop hypertension and diabetes as they get older.  They suffer from anemia as a result of foods high in calories but low in protein and nutrients.  

Here in Namibia, most of the children suffer from malnutrition.  There are no machines to immediately test them for anemia.  Their diet consists of porridge and sometimes omaere  (milk they boil and they eat the curds).  Many patients are exposed to TB which must be ruled out before determining their final diagnosis.  However, the patients are always happy to see you and love having their picture taken.  

The Lifeline Clinic is doing remarkable work considering the government restrictions they must adhere to and the clinic is staffed by primarily by volunteers.  Dr. Laura Maynard Smith is the first doctor here and she is doing a fantastic job.  Not only is she a great physician, but a really good chef for the volunteers!  

I would recommend this experience to anyone who wants to venture out of their comfortable surroundings and have an experience that will make them realize how people, the Sans, survive with practically nothing to eat and an existence without electricity and running water.  The staff has been friendly and great to work with. The two dogs Scruffy and Choppy made me feel right at home.  

With dedicated staff like Dr. Maynard Smith, I believe that there is a chance to improve the health care to the Sans.   If every volunteer could raise even $100-$1000 for the clinic, it would make a great difference in the lives of the Sans and their children.

DFNI Safari Ball raises funds for the Lifeline Clinic

Our wonderful Patron’s and ambassadors, Claudio & Sylvie Frateschi, helped to make this year’s DFNI Ball in aid of our Lifeline Clinic the biggest ever!

Our Lifeline Clinic was thrilled to benefit from the wonderfully themed Safari Ball at the Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel in London. With a room packed with 250 guests from the Duty Free Industry and an abundance of beautiful prizes from luxury brands and fashion retailers including stunning jewellery, handbags & holidays, the evening was an outstanding success.

Our clinic was set up in a remote area in Namibia in 2003 following the sad and what should have been avoidable death of a young San Bushman girl. Since then, the clinic has helped thousands of children and families each year, but as a voluntary run resource, providing free healthcare to many of the regions poorest people, it is constantly under threat through lack of funding.

The money raised through the DFNI Safari ball will make a huge difference to the number of San children, families and communities helped through the clinic. It will enable a volunteer Doctor and full time nurse to continue treating the families in this remote area who would otherwise have no-where to go, purchase vital medicines, transport those who need hospital treatment to the nearest one over 400km away and undertake outreach work to even more remote villages.

N/a’an ku sê would like to thank DFNI and everyone who supported the Safari Ball for throwing a lifeline to those children who need it most. To find out more, make a donation or volunteer at the clinic visit www.naankuse.com/volunteer or email donationsnaankuse@iway.na