Supported by Philanthropy, ISU and Namibian Health Care Leaders Build Sustainable Training Programs in Namibia

Since 2018, an evolving relationship between Idaho State University (ISU) and the University of Namibia (UNAM) has allowed health care leaders from both institutions to focus on reducing maternal and newborn mortality in Namibia.  Through a generous donation from the Beckon Foundation, health care providers from ISU have traveled to Namibia to partner on evolving programs with UNAM faculty. These programs are designed to deliver high quality training to educate and hone obstetrical skills for nurse midwives in the African nation, while also providing unique teaching and research opportunities for ISU faculty and medical residents. 

During a sabbatical in Namibia in 2018, David Hachey, PharmD, established relationships that led to the launch of a seven-year health care collaborative with UNAM. What started as one ISU faculty member supporting the growth of a new school of pharmacy and medicine has evolved into an educational partnership focused on improving the health of moms and babies across the country. Under the leadership of Professors Jonathan Cree, MD, Rex Force, PharmD, Kristin Van De Griend, PhD, and Dr. Hachey, this interprofessional initiative is improving access to high quality care while creating sustainable training programs for midwives.  

In 2019, a meeting between Professor Louise Pretorius, associate dean of the School of Nursing and Public Health at UNAM, and Dr. Jonathan Cree from the ISU Department of Family Medicine at ISU identified key areas within Namibia’s health care system that required attention and long term solutions. Despite the critical need for approximately $150,000 USD to acquire essential medical equipment and support training, initial efforts to secure funding over several years were unsuccessful. 

All that changed in March 2024 with the generous philanthropic support of Dr. Rebecca Kinney and the Beckon Foundation, which made it possible to purchase simulation equipment, support travel to Namibia, and conduct the initial training of 36 midwives. A graduate of Boise’s family medicine residency training program, Dr. Kinney leads her foundation with a global mission “to partner with individuals and organizations with innovative plans to reduce inequities and strengthen society through better health.” The equipment purchased allows for the simulation of critical obstetrical complications, such as breech delivery, shoulder dystocia, post-partum hemorrhage, and neonatal resuscitation. A particular focus of this international partnership is on reducing Namibia’s maternal mortality from 139 deaths per 100,000 live births down to 70 by 2030, a global WHO Goal. In comparison, Norway stands at 1.3 and the US at 17 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.

In 2025, a team of medical providers and researchers returned to Namibia to expand training to  an additional 36 midwives and certify UNAM midwife faculty as independent instructors, thereby creating a sustainable model. Dr. Cree noted, ”Training staff as independent instructors ensures these critical skills are embedded within Namibia’s healthcare system. This is how real change is sustained.” By equipping providers and faculty in the advanced midwifery program with additional skills and knowledge, UNAM expects this to be a Namibian-led training model by July 2026.