Windhoek:Kavango West: Concerns have been raised by Chief Registered Nurse Adeline Kudumo regarding herbal practices among women in the Nkurenkuru district, which are responsible for 40% of sepsis cases at Nankudu District Hospital.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Kudumo noted that many women seek medical attention at the hospital too late, suffering from severe infections due to the use of traditional herbs after childbirth, miscarriage, or abortion. These practices, believed to 'cleanse' or 'tighten' the body, involve inserting herbs vaginally while the body is still healing, leading to serious health complications.

Kudumo explained that while physical examinations often reveal these infections, patients frequently assert the safety of these herbs, citing traditional usage by elders, and instead blame witchcraft or bad spirits for their illnesses.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services is actively working to inform communities about the risks of using unregulated herbs, particularly after delivery or pregnancy loss, through radio broadcasts and educational programs at various facilities.

Kudumo also warned that some individuals sell these herbs secretly, prioritizing profit over women's health, and stressed that the long-term use of such herbs could increase the risk of cervical and uterine cancers. She urged for a reevaluation of these practices, emphasizing the harm they are causing to women's health.