A Windhoek mother caring for her six-year-old son with type 1 diabetes says government assistance falls short of covering treatment costs that include twice-daily insulin injections and specialized nutrition. Edwina Engelbrecht reports spending approximately N$2,500 monthly on medication plus nearly N$5,000 every other month for injections, while the condition requires expensive protein-rich foods and whole grains that remain beyond reach. The N$1,600 monthly social grant proves inadequate, prompting her appeal for an increase to at least N$3,000.
Health minister Esperance Luvindao has flagged rising pediatric diabetes cases as an urgent concern after officials recorded 122 diagnoses among children under five and 377 among teenagers during the 2024-25 financial year. Nearly 7 percent of Namibian adults, representing close to 90,000 people, currently live with diabetes. Luvindao emphasized that lifestyle modifications and stronger prevention measures have become necessary as the metabolic disorder increasingly affects younger populations rather than remaining confined to adults.
Health minister Esperance Luvindao has flagged rising pediatric diabetes cases as an urgent concern after officials recorded 122 diagnoses among children under five and 377 among teenagers during the 2024-25 financial year. Nearly 7 percent of Namibian adults, representing close to 90,000 people, currently live with diabetes. Luvindao emphasized that lifestyle modifications and stronger prevention measures have become necessary as the metabolic disorder increasingly affects younger populations rather than remaining confined to adults.
