Namibia: Geingob’s Transparency Helps Break Stigma Around Men’s Health

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January 31, 2024January 31, 2024
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Namibia: Geingob’s Transparency Helps Break Stigma Around Men’s Health


When the Presidency issued a press release two weeks ago regarding President Hage Geingob being diagnosed with “cancerous cells”, it sent shockwaves amongst citizens, the media and political commentators alike.

In a country where machismo is still deeply rooted in the culture of what a man ought to be, certain sectors of society applauded Geingob for his transparency regarding his health, and took it as a reassurance that African men in general, and black men in particular, are coming to terms with the reality that health should be a priority, and that a diagnosis is not something to be hidden or to be ashamed of, but rather something that can be treated through appropriate medical care.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “compared to members of other races, Black and African-American people have higher rates of getting and dying from many kinds of cancer.

Black people have the highest death rate for cancer overall, and black people have a lower overall five-year cancer survival rate than white people”.

Some of the reasons given for the high prevalence of cancer amongst men of African descent are their different genetic profile, and their mutations. Other schools of thought also point to diet and lifestyle choices.

However, where cancer is involved, African values and traditions, especially about the concept of “masculinity and “what it means to be a man”, also come to the fore. Dr Elizabeth Kamati, a private medical practitioner in northern Namibia, says cancer or the prevalence of cancer amongst Aawambo men is relatively new, but that does not mean it was not always there.

“I can speak with authority as an Owambo person when I say that cancer was regarded as a white people’s disease. In the Aawambo culture, it was regarded (and in some instances still regarded) as a taboo, and I believe with the President’s announcement of his ailment, he is sending a message that cancer is not a death sentence, and it can be treated if detected early”.

Kamati further said, “Access to healthcare amongst indigenous black communities may be a factor when considering the ‘theory’ that cancer is a new disease, or cancer is historically a white disease. You see, as people of colour, some of us, even the educated amongst us, do not do annual check-ups. Some people only go to hospitals when they fall ill, which is not advisable. Even if one looks at diseases like cancer, early detection plays a very big role in the possible success of treatment. The earlier the cancer can be detected, the better the chances of successful treatment”.