Hulda Shipanga
Encyclopedia
Hulda Kamboi Shipanga was a nurse, midwife, and ministerial adviser to the Namibia
n Ministry of Health. She was the first black nurse in Namibia to be promoted to matron
, the highest rank.
, South-West Africa, and educated in South Africa
, first as teacher, then as nurse, she returned to South-West Africa (modern-day Namibia
) to work in the Native Hospital in Windhoek
. Shipanga studied further to become a midwife, a profession she then conducted at Windhoek's Old Location
, a segregated
area for black residents. On 10 December 1959, the day of the Old Location Uprising, she was one of three nurses attending to the wounded when doctors (all white at that time due to the restrictions of the Bantu Education Act
) at the hospitals in Windhoek refused to treat them.
After further qualifying as theatre
nurse and specialising in paediatrics and orthopaedics in the United Kingdom
, she was the highest qualified nurse in the twilight days of South-West Africa and during the period of the interim government in Namibia. Shortly after Namibian Independence she was the first black nurse to be promoted to the rank of Matron
− before, such promotion was discouraged by Apartheid laws. She served in this position at Katutura State Hospital
until her retirement.
Founding president Sam Nujoma
appointed her as special advisor to the Minister of Health Nickey Iyambo
although Shipanga was already of pensionable age. She later also served under Libertine Amathila
, Namibias second Minister of Health.
At the age of 74, she returned to Aminuis to farm. Shipanga was married twice and had no children. She died in 2010 in Windhoek.
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
n Ministry of Health. She was the first black nurse in Namibia to be promoted to matron
Matron
Matron is the job title of a very senior nurse in several countries, including the United Kingdom, its former colonies, including the Republic of Ireland, although the title Clinical Nurse Manager has become acceptable as an alternative.-History:...
, the highest rank.
Biography
Born in AminuisAminuis
Aminuis is a settlement in the Omaheke Region of Namibia and the district capital of the Aminuis electoral constituency. It is the hometown of politicians Steve Mogotsi and Kuaima Riruako, and matron Hulda Shipanga....
, South-West Africa, and educated in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, first as teacher, then as nurse, she returned to South-West Africa (modern-day Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
) to work in the Native Hospital in Windhoek
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
. Shipanga studied further to become a midwife, a profession she then conducted at Windhoek's Old Location
Old Location
The Old Location was an area segregated for Black residents of Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. It was situated in the area of today's suburb Hochland Park....
, a segregated
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
area for black residents. On 10 December 1959, the day of the Old Location Uprising, she was one of three nurses attending to the wounded when doctors (all white at that time due to the restrictions of the Bantu Education Act
Bantu Education Act
Bantu Education Act of 1953 was a South African law which codified several aspects of the apartheid system. Its major provision was enforced separation of races in all educational institutions. Even universities were made 'tribal', and all but three Missionary schools chose to close down when the...
) at the hospitals in Windhoek refused to treat them.
After further qualifying as theatre
Operating theatre
An operating theater was a non-sterile, tiered theater or amphitheater in which students and other spectators could watch surgeons perform surgery...
nurse and specialising in paediatrics and orthopaedics in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, she was the highest qualified nurse in the twilight days of South-West Africa and during the period of the interim government in Namibia. Shortly after Namibian Independence she was the first black nurse to be promoted to the rank of Matron
Matron
Matron is the job title of a very senior nurse in several countries, including the United Kingdom, its former colonies, including the Republic of Ireland, although the title Clinical Nurse Manager has become acceptable as an alternative.-History:...
− before, such promotion was discouraged by Apartheid laws. She served in this position at Katutura State Hospital
Katutura State Hospital
Katutura State Hospital is a hospital in Katutura, the black township of Windhoek, Namibia. It is one of two State Hospitals in the Windhoek area. In November 2008, the hospital installed a new solar water-heating system as part of a major renovation campaign....
until her retirement.
Founding president Sam Nujoma
Sam Nujoma
Samuel Daniel Shafiishuna Nujoma is a Namibian politician who was the first President of Namibia from 1990 to 2005. He led the South-West Africa People's Organisation in its long struggle against South African rule and took office as President when Namibia obtained independence on 21 March 1990...
appointed her as special advisor to the Minister of Health Nickey Iyambo
Nickey Iyambo
Nickey Iyambo is a Namibian politician and physician. A member of SWAPO, Iyambo has been a member of the Cabinet of Namibia since independence in March 1990. He has been the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry since 2005....
although Shipanga was already of pensionable age. She later also served under Libertine Amathila
Libertine Amathila
Libertine Appolus Amathila is a Namibian physician and politician. She has been the Deputy Prime Minister of Namibia since March 2005.Amathila was born in Fransfontein, Kunene Region...
, Namibias second Minister of Health.
At the age of 74, she returned to Aminuis to farm. Shipanga was married twice and had no children. She died in 2010 in Windhoek.