Allexer Namundjembo
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has refuted allegations that Onandjokwe Hospital in the Oshikoto region subjected expecting mothers to forced labour.
This is after a video showing pregnant women cleaning circulated on social media.
Ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya said the women are staying at the hospital’s maternity shelter and are not forced to work.
He said they are encouraged to stay active through light daily activities.
Kamaya told Windhoek Observer in a telephonic interview last week that the women cook for themselves and clean their sleeping areas as part of routine self-care during pregnancy.
“For the baby to come earlier, the mothers may start walking. It is not that they are forced to do the work,” he said.
He said people who do not understand how maternity shelters operate may wrongly view their activities as forced labour.
“It is just for them to exercise. These are people who come from far away and are housed at the maternity shelter. Even at Windhoek Central Hospital, you will find mothers walking up and down,” Kamaya said.
The clarification follows earlier public concern about conditions for pregnant women at the hospital.
In August 2023, The Namibian reported that a parliamentary standing committee found that expecting mothers were housed in a tent because of delays in completing a new maternity ward. The committee described the conditions as inadequate and raised concerns about overcrowding and the state of facilities.
In a separate 2023 report, New Era said some pregnant women slept in makeshift areas, including near the mortuary, due to limited space at the maternity waiting facility.
The health ministry has previously acknowledged that Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital, which serves a large population in northern Namibia, faces pressure on its maternity services because of high patient numbers and limited infrastructure.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognises maternity waiting homes as part of maternal health care in several countries, including Namibia. These facilities allow women from remote areas to stay close to health centres in the final weeks of pregnancy to reduce delays in accessing skilled birth and emergency care.
Studies in Southern Africa show that women at maternity shelters often take part in light daily chores and self-care activities to maintain mobility and help keep shared spaces clean.
The government has announced plans to build a new maternity ward at Onandjokwe Hospital to address overcrowding and improve care for mothers and newborns. The project is expected to expand delivery spaces and add specialised care services.
The ministry said the activities shown in the video should be seen as part of normal maternity housing and not forced labour.
