HE IS called many names, from the medicine man, the miracle worker and humantarian, and then doctor Tshali Iithete earlier this month was awarded an Africa Economy Builders Award – young medical entrepreneur of the year 2017.
This award was established in 2006 to recognise and celebrate the success of seasoned entrepreneurs, executives, companies, international investors as well as African diaspora talents who contribute to the economic growth of Africa.
Iithete said that was one of his proudest moments.
“The proudest moment has been in witnessing the growth of the dynamic team of Ongwediva Medipark; a very young dedicated team that has pulled through some of the most challenging days, and is on a path to creating a centre of excellence in the health sector,” he noted.
Iithete said his passion to study medicine was born out of witnessing the distress in the country’s healthcare system, especially in rural areas.
“I grew up at Oniipa (where the Onandjokwe Hospital is situated), and I could see how patients have been ferried from as far away as Okongo. There were very few Namibian medical doctors at the time, doctors like Naftal Hamata, Fillemon Amaambo, Thomas Ihuhua, Solly Amadhila, Nestor Shivute and Paul Kanyama, just to mention a few. I also grew up to see pioneer Namibian doctors such as Nickey Iyambo and Marcus Schivute in Finland, as well as Libertina Amathila. They inspired me to take up this challenge,” Iithete added.
He said about 13 years ago, they felt the need to complement existing healthcare facilities by establishing a state-of-the-art hospital at Ongwediva.
“This initiative was welcomed by the dynamic team at the Ongwediva Town Council, and four years later after a feasibility study and securing financing, the Ongwediva Medipark was born. The beginning of this greenfield project was indeed a challenge,” Iithete noted.
