Namibia Health plan paints the city pink for Breast Cancer Awareness
In commemoration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Namibia Health Plan (NHP) brought breast cancer awareness to the streets of Windhoek through its inaugural NHP Pink Run, where close to two thousand participants laced up for a cause that goes beyond wearing pink and talking about breast cancer. Held under the theme “Every reason to run” the race was designed around raising awareness for breast cancer, encouraging people to seek appropriate medical care and making healthier choices. The Pink Run gave participants a physical way to embody that message, turning a health conversation into movement and creating a platform where people could run for themselves, for someone they love, for someone they have lost, or simply because they
believe that health deserves action.
Hosted at Ramblers Sports Club the race offered 5 km, 10 km and 21 km distances, attracting participants with different levels of running experience. The routes brought together NHP members, employees, families, partners, recreational runners and members of the public, creating a sea of pink across the race route. While participants competed against the clock and challenged themselves over their chosen distances, the larger purpose was to run for breast cancer awareness and to reinforce the importance of moving from awareness to action.
After the run, female race participants received a clinical breast cancer screening in a private and secluded area free of charge as part of the race objectives. The race also aligned with NHP’s broader mandate to encourage health, fitness and proactive healthcare. NHP’s approach to health promotion recognises that healthy communities are not built only through treatment when people become ill, but also by encouraging people to be physically active, make informed health choices and take preventative measures. NHP Principal Officer Dantago Garosas highlighted that the theme was intentionally chosen to challenge the way breast cancer awareness is often approached “Every October, we see the pink ribbons, the pink shirts and the messages reminding us about breast cancer. Those conversations are important, but we cannot stop at awareness. We wanted to ask a more important question: what happens after the awareness? What action are we taking? Are we making time for screening? Are we encouraging the people we love to take care of their health? Are we paying attention when something changes? The Pink Run is our way of saying that awareness should lead somewhere. It should lead to action,” she stated. She also noted the milestones achieved to be able to host an event to better understand its members.
“Since April, NHP has made significant progress in improving claims processing. By October, 87.35% of claims were being processed within seven days, compared to 62.13% in April. In August, NHP achieved a 97.48% call answer rate, with an average waiting time of just 13 seconds. Since April, additional 67 Namibians have been appointed to strengthen NHP's managed care operations,” she added. Ten Kilometer participant Florence Vahekeni applauded the organizers for the purpose of the event. “I lost my baby cousin to cancer, so I’m doing this for her, for baby Rauna. This cause is very close to my heart, and running is my way of honouring her memory,” she said. Jessica Nombanza also ran for a cause. ”I ran for my grandfather. It was difficult at first, but it was fun getting back into it. It was also motivating to see so many people running for a cause. I’ve been with NHP for the longest time, and they offer great service. I can honestly testify that I’ve never had a bad experience with them,” she said.
Tunohole Mungoba, Corporate Communications Manager at NHP, emphasised that the race was about turning the campaign message into action “The Pink Run gave people an opportunity to show their support, but we also wanted to remind them that breast health requires personal action. Whether you ran for yourself, for someone you love, or in memory of someone you have lost, we hope that reason stays with you beyond today. Take the time to prioritise your health, encourage someone close to you to get screened, and do not ignore changes in your body. Every small action can make a difference, and that is the message we want people to carry with them after the race,” she noted. She further thanked stakeholders that strive to provide health care service to Namibians. “NHP's provider network includes 369 participating general practitioners and 108 dentists, helping strengthen access to healthcare services for our members. We are grateful for each and every stakeholder that helps us help our members,” she noted.
For NHP, the cause behind the Pink Run extends beyond Breast Cancer Awareness Month. While October provides an important opportunity to focus attention on breast cancer, the emphasis on conversations around screening, early detection and proactive healthcare should continue throughout the year.
