Welwitchia University

Welwitchia University is a private higher learning institution in Namibia which opened its doors in 2013; then it was mainly training nurses, environmental officers environmental and pharmacy assistants. However, since 2023, it started to diversify its training offerings which include Education, Law and Social Work.

Collaboration

Welwitchia University intends to collaborate with CrossCare Health and Community Services CC mainly for our nurses clinical training in relation to Alzheimers Dementia care services; in placing our students for clinical experience as required by the Health Professional Council of Namibia. Such specialised practical service providers are scarce in Namibia, and it will thus be beneficial to most of the training institutions that offer nurse training in Namibia.

Dementia is a collective term for over 120 different brain diseases. In 2025, an estimated 140 million people are expected to be living with dementia globally, with nearly 10 million new cases emerging annually, often driven by ageing populations. World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 60% of cases occur in low- and middle-income countries, with women disproportionately affected.

There is a significant shortage of specialized dementia care in Namibia in general, with ADN in Swakopmund being the primary facility offering specialized services. Research indicated a need for improved training among nursing students in Namibia.

Over the past 15 years, ADN has built up substantial expertise in caring for people with dementia. They refer to this as supporting people with dementia in the final stage of their lives.

With their company in Namibia, they will first train and educate (unemployed) nurses in Namibia at ADN in Swakopmund. There, they learn the knowledge and vision of ADN regarding dementia care / support. Then they will do practical training in nursing homes in the Netherlands. In this way, the nurses develop a great deal of practical experience, which they can use when they return to Namibia.

Welwitchia University believe that it will be beneficial if Mr Ton in ’t Veen and Mrs Claudine Dhaene, establish this type of company in Namibia, and they can run it themselves in Namibia. They want to set this company up for the benefit of Namibia, and their knowledge and experience are indispensable to the company.

We aim to set up projects, in cooperation with ADN and the universities in Namibia, that raise awareness about the disease and how you can support people living with dementia and their family within your own community.

Together with ADN we will offer an exchange program. To motivate nurses and informal caregivers in The Netherlands to apply for the training program of ADN in Namibia. We export skills and import students into Namibia.

Welwitchia University will build a strong partnership with ADN in Swakopmund and spread their expertise and experience with universities and professional nurses across Namibia.

We are also in the early stages of a collaboration between Welwitchia University, UNAM (University of Namibia), and a university in the Netherlands. This is still in its initial phase, but it is intended to lead to a long-term partnership.

The group studies how health and social care can be organised around individuals with complex, long‑term challenges, moving away from system‑driven routines, and toward personalised, integrated, and value‑based care. Researchers collaborate closely with professionals, citizens, and organisations to design practical methods that help tackle the “wicked problems” of today’s healthcare landscape.

Collaboration?

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+31627522289
info@crosscarenamibia.com
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