The Ministry of Health and Social Services and the University of Namibia (UNAM) on Wednesday launched the COVID-19 Community Perspectives in Stitch Art exhibition, showcasing the impact of COVID-19 through arts and craft.

The exhibition displayed at the UNAM Library, contains community artworks created by traditional artists from Rehoboth, Mariental and Khomas and are representative of how their communities feel about the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination.

The exhibition project managed by UNAM and funded by the Welsh government through Cardiff University was initiated during the UNAM Cares National COVID-19 awareness roadshow, which was aimed to support the health ministry in reaching Namibian people in remote areas and informing them about the COVID-19 virus and vaccines.

In his address health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula thanked the Welsh government for funding the project and for their continued support to the Namibian government in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the Welsh government’s support through UNAM was designed to deliver health promotion information and opportunities for COVID-19 vaccination for a total of 90 000 of the most remote and vulnerable citizens of Namibia.

“The success of this project has to be acknowledged in abundance. Not only 90 000 people have been contacted, but outreach has been conducted across the whole of the nation of 2.5 million people,” Shangula noted.

UNAM’s vice-chancellor, Professor Kenneth Matengu said the exhibition is an opportunity to speak in the language of art as many people understand the visual presentation better than conventional texts.

“What you see before you are beautiful artworks which we hope display the honest, true, raw and effective feelings of how communities feel about getting vaccinated… What you are seeing is innovation in the arts borne out of our struggle with COVID-19,” he said, adding it is hoped that those seeing the art enjoy, understand and appreciate it.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency