Donatha saves a life

WINDHOEK – A little known but highly commendable deed by local sports medic Donatha Gawanab has won her praise from one of Namibia’s highest sports bodies and has in all likelihood secured her funding to advance her knowledge in sports medicine.

Gawanab, who was Team Namibia’s sports medic during the All-Africa Games in Algeria, recently saved the life of a male passenger on a flight from Algeria to London. Gawanab told Nampa that she was requested by an air stewardess to assist a man who had fainted.On examination, Gawanab found that the man was struggling to breathe.With the plane’s first-aid kit, she immediately inserted an intravenous line (drip) and gave the man oxygen.Gawanab also took a blood sample and discovered that the man’s blood-sugar level was very low and that his blood pressure had dropped significantly.She administered glucose and monitored him throughout.After about 20 minutes the man showed signs of improvement when he opened his eyes.With the emergency on board, the flight destined for London had to make an emergency landing in Paris, France, where the patient received further medical care.Gawanab received a standing ovation from the passengers on the plane.She told Nampa that the man and his family has since made contact with her and thanked her sincerely.The man has now recovered fully, she added.Gawanab said it was the biggest emergency that she ever had to attend to in her life and she is happy that she could help to save someone’s life.Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) President Agnes Tjongarero, who was also on the plane, showered praise on Gawanab for her humanitarian, life-saving deed.Because of it, the NNOC decided to assist Gawanab financially to continue her studies in sports medicine.Said Tjongarero: “We are greatly impressed by her (Gawanab).And it was not the first time that she made an impression on us.”According to Tjongarero, Gawanab also did a wonderful job during Namibia’s participation in the first Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) Games held in May in Lesotho.She worked very hard and did a wonderful job, said Tjongarero.”She is indeed an asset for Namibia, specifically on the sports field,” said Tjongarero.Team Namibia’s Manager during the AAG, Bernhard Kaanjuka, who was also on the same flight, told Nampa that Gawanab did a terrific job by saving the man’s life.Because of the unexpected detour, the Namibians almost missed their connecting flight from London back to Namibia.But when the Air Namibia pilot heard of Gawanab’s heroism, he halted the plane until all the Namibians were on board.Chef de Mission John Walters added that he was glad Gawanab was on the plane to assist the sick passenger.Gawanab told Nampa that she was requested by an air stewardess to assist a man who had fainted.On examination, Gawanab found that the man was struggling to breathe.With the plane’s first-aid kit, she immediately inserted an intravenous line (drip) and gave the man oxygen.Gawanab also took a blood sample and discovered that the man’s blood-sugar level was very low and that his blood pressure had dropped significantly.She administered glucose and monitored him throughout.After about 20 minutes the man showed signs of improvement when he opened his eyes.With the emergency on board, the flight destined for London had to make an emergency landing in Paris, France, where the patient received further medical care.Gawanab received a standing ovation from the passengers on the plane.She told Nampa that the man and his family has since made contact with her and thanked her sincerely.The man has now recovered fully, she added.Gawanab said it was the biggest emergency that she ever had to attend to in her life and she is happy that she could help to save someone’s life.Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) President Agnes Tjongarero, who was also on the plane, showered praise on Gawanab for her humanitarian, life-saving deed.Because of it, the NNOC decided to assist Gawanab financially to continue her studies in sports medicine.Said Tjongarero: “We are greatly impressed by her (Gawanab).And it was not the first time that she made an impression on us.”According to Tjongarero, Gawanab also did a wonderful job during Namibia’s participation in the first Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) Games held in May in Lesotho.She worked very hard and did a wonderful job, said Tjongarero.”She is indeed an asset for Namibia, specifically on the sports field,” said Tjongarero.Team Namibia’s Manager during the AAG, Bernhard Kaanjuka, who was also on the same flight, told Nampa that Gawanab did a terrific job by saving the man’s life.Because of the unexpected detour, the Namibians almost missed their connecting flight from London back to Namibia.But when the Air Namibia pilot heard of Gawanab’s heroism, he halted the plane until all the Namibians were on board.Chef de Mission John Walters added that he was glad Gawanab was on the plane to assist the sick passenger.