Namibia launches child maltreatment clinical guidelines
Namibia has reaffirmed its leadership in child protection with the launch of the Responding to Violence against Children: A Clinical Handbook for Health Professionals in Namibia, aimed at strengthening the country’s response to child abuse and ensuring consistent, high-quality care for every child.Despite significant government efforts to end violence against children, the problem remains deeply entrenched.
According to the 2019 Namibia Violence against Children and Youth Survey (VACS), nearly 40% of girls and 45% of boys have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse during childhood. Physical violence remains the most prevalent form, affecting 32.9% of girls and 41.2% of boys before they turn 18.
Worryingly, few victims seek help. Only about half of children who experience physical violence disclose it, and even fewer report it formally. Around 32% of girls and 35.2% of boys know where to find help, but only about 15% of all children receive any form of support.
Pioneer
Namibia has long been a pioneer in child protection, being among the first African countries to adopt a proactive, well-resourced national strategy to end violence against children. The country also maintains a robust legislative and policy framework to protect women and children from violence, exploitation, and abuse.
The adoption of the Global Responding to Child Maltreatment: A Clinical Handbook for Health Professionals and its adaptation for Namibia underscores the government’s commitment to improving multi-sectoral coordination and service delivery.
Speaking at the launch in September, during the Day of the Namibian Child commemoration, Linda Mbwale, Deputy Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, said the new guidelines would “standardise service provision for child victims of abuse, ensuring that no matter where a child seeks help – whether at a police station, hospital, or with a social worker – they receive the same quality of care, protection, and dignity.”
Commitment
She added that the guidelines “symbolise Namibia’s commitment to upholding international standards while tailoring them to our national context, bridging the gap between global best practice and local realities.”
Noriaki Sadamoto, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Japanese Embassy in Namibia, highlighted Japan’s partnership with the Namibian government and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in strengthening the health sector.
He noted that the Japanese government had provided up to U$$2 million between 2019 and 2024 for various projects, including US$500 000 in 2024 for the initiative Increasing Access to Quality Nutrition and Protection Services for Vulnerable Populations. The project supported the development of the clinical handbook to enhance clinical care and promote safer, more patient-centred services.
Strengthening response
Dr Richard Banda, WHO Representative in Namibia, commended the government’s continued commitment to ending violence against children and expressed gratitude to Japan for its partnership. He stressed that strengthening the health sector’s response is essential within the broader child protection framework, noting that “early detection and intervention are critical in addressing child maltreatment.”
He added that healthcare professionals and social workers “play a pivotal role in identifying signs of abuse early, enabling prompt intervention that prevents further harm and promotes children’s overall wellbeing.”
The launch event, held in Swakopmund, was attended by hundreds of schoolchildren and youth leaders from various organisations. The WHO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Namibia in building the capacity of health professionals to effectively respond to and prevent violence against children. - Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the World Health Organisation (WHO) – Namibia.