By: Kleopas Nghikefelwa
As we gear up for the Christmas holiday, let me share a brief story about the pioneering journey of the first medical doctor to grace the Namibian medical field.
On December 14, 1908, Dr. Selma Rainio arrived in Oniipa, leaving an indelible mark on the community.
In the beginning, the local people perceived her as a “White (Onganga) traditional healer,” given their reliance on traditional healing practices.
At that time, modern medical science, with its understanding of diseases caused by bacteria and viruses, was largely unknown to the Namibian people.
Namibians held strong beliefs in the supernatural, attributing illnesses to curses, witchcraft, or divine displeasure.
The lack of information about modern medicine and inadequate healthcare services exacerbated the challenges faced by the sick.
Enter Dr. Selma Rainio (1873 – 1939), the trailblasing first woman medical doctor in Namibia. Dr. Rainio transformed the medical landscape by introducing affordable and modern healthcare services to the local population.
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