* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Centuries of discrimination have caused the indigenous San people of Namibia and their neighbours to endure extreme poverty and poor health.
Centuries of discrimination have caused the indigenous San people of Namibia and their neighbours to endure extreme poverty and poor health. Their unique way of life has seen them marginalised from mainstream Namibian culture and prevented from accessing health services. But now the San people and their neighbours are using that distinct culture to generate income, they are fighting to have a say in the running of their local health services, and they are tackling the root causes of their poverty and poor health.
The San people are traditionally hunter-gatherers. One of the ways they make money today is by running a museum for tourists providing information on their culture, and dressing in their traditional clothes to give people an insight into their heritage.
Dahm Glago (centre) is 32 years old. In 2010 he contracted a strand of tuberculosis that was resistant to most drugs. Having finally got better he now works to identify other sufferers and educates his community on tuberculosis prevention and treatment.
Vasco Karamata is a 36 year old single parent of three children. Lack of nutritious food is a cause of ill health amongst the San people, so Vasco works at a vegetable garden to provide food for Tuberculosis and HIV sufferers, as well as to sell to provide for his family.
Muveri Tjikurura is 40 years old and has nine children. In the past, cultural barriers such as language prevented the San people and their neighbours from accessing health services.
Now Muveri takes part in meetings with health professionals to ensure health services are culturally appropriate for the indigenous people people.
Fernandu Chivoka has eight children and suffers from tuberculosis. His illness means he regularly visits the local health clinic and he is pleased that thehealth services are now more accepting of his culture.
Maria Musangu’s family owns the local general shop. Maria collects boxes of condoms from the health centre and distributes them for free from the shop to improve sexual health amongst her community.
Taking a break in Tsumkwe.
Sarah Zungu is a senior counsellor in Tsumkwe. She understands the importance of health services that are culturally appropriate as she has seen the rates of HIV and TB drop since health professionals began speaking San languages. She is pleased to see more San people training as nurses.
Tsumkwe children
