It’s winter in Namibia and at C2C’s clinic in the informal Democratic Resettlement Community (DRC) near Swakopmund, increasing numbers of women are seeking health services. In July, over 650 women visited our clinic— many received pre-natal or post-natal check-ups, others attended health education sessions on family planning and sexual health (one of which is pictured above).

An important component of our work in Namibia is our relationship with the local Ministry of Health office.  This partnership was designed to increase the government’s capacity to offer health services to women and children in the informal squatter community of DRC. Indeed, the population of the settlement continues to grow as migrant workers flock to the area in the hopes of securing work at local mines.

The growth of the population is not only from those seeking work, however.  As the migrant worker population surges, so too does the rate of teenage pregnancy. Over the course of the next year, we aim to assist in the lowering of this rate.

Through a grant from the Izumi Foundation, C2C will work with the Ministry of Health to promote a health campaign to curb teenage pregnancy.  Partnering with schools, parents, and community leaders we’ll work to help young people make healthy decisions about their futures, delay having children and complete their schooling.