Nutritionist Calls for Greater Investment in Preventive Healthcare

By nelsonkornelius Aug 25, 2026

1000828406 — Registered Nutritionist Matheus Hamukwaya

Registered nutritionist Matheus Hamukwaya is calling for greater investment in preventive healthcare, arguing that Namibia needs to make better use of nutrition professionals to address the country’s growing burden of malnutrition and non-communicable diseases.

Hamukwaya made the remarks during an exclusive telephonic interview with The Updated World last night, where he raised concerns about what he described as an imbalance between curative and preventive healthcare in Namibia.

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“The Ministry of Health and Social Services spends more on curative methods, where we have nurses, doctors and patients. But when it comes to preventive methods, we can do more with the role of nutritionists,” Hamukwaya said.

He said nutritionists could play a significant role in preventing diseases, managing existing health conditions and helping patients adopt healthier diets before their conditions become more serious.

Hamukwaya’s concerns come as Namibia continues to face a complex nutrition challenge, including undernutrition as well as concerns around overweight, obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases.

He said conditions such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension and high cholesterol are becoming increasingly concerning and could place additional pressure on the country’s healthcare system.

Hamukwaya argued that greater emphasis on prevention could help reduce the demand for medication and other expensive medical interventions in the long term.

He also questioned the limited presence of nutritionists within Namibia’s public healthcare system, saying nutrition professionals should be available across the health system, including at hospitals, intermediate hospitals, clinics and health centres.

He said nutritionists should work alongside doctors and nurses to provide patients with professional dietary guidance based on their individual medical conditions.

“For example, patients in hospitals are just given food. Only cooks are cooking food, but the food is not inspected by nutritionists to see whether it is good for certain diseases and certain patients,” he said.

Hamukwaya believes this is particularly important for patients suffering from conditions that require specialised diets.
He said the training of nutritionists was initiated as part of efforts to address a shortage of nutrition professionals in Namibia.

According to Hamukwaya, the Ministry of Health and Social Services wrote to the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) regarding the establishment of a four-year degree programme to train nutritionists as part of the country’s efforts to address the shortage of professionals in the field.

Between 2022 and 2025, the programme produced a total of 86 nutritionist graduates, with more students currently being trained, Hamukwaya said.

He said the development of the programme was therefore intended to respond to an identified need within the country’s health system.

However, Hamukwaya questioned why trained nutritionists have not subsequently been adequately incorporated into the public health system.

He said nutritionists have repeatedly approached government institutions seeking intervention over employment opportunities.

According to Hamukwaya, letters have been sent to the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the Office of the Prime Minister and relevant professional bodies, followed by several attempts to obtain responses.

“We went back. We got feedback, but the feedbacks are not answering our questions,” Hamukwaya said.

He said the nutritionists have specifically sought clarity on when they would be incorporated into the health system and when government would create or fill positions for nutrition professionals.

Hamukwaya said the first graduates completed their studies in 2022, with additional groups graduating in subsequent years.

He believes the continued training of nutritionists without corresponding opportunities to utilise their skills raises questions about workforce planning in Namibia’s health sector.

For Hamukwaya, the issue is bigger than employment.

He argues that Namibia should view nutritionists as part of the country’s preventive healthcare workforce rather than simply as graduates looking for jobs.

He said the growing burden of nutrition-related diseases means the country needs professionals who can help communities make informed dietary choices and prevent illness.

“The burden of malnutrition is really escalating in the country,” Hamukwaya said.

He warned that the country could face increasing pressure on its healthcare system if greater attention is not given to prevention.

Hamukwaya also believes nutritionists could find employment beyond government health facilities.

He pointed to private catering companies that supply meals to hospitals, prisons and other institutions as potential employers of nutrition professionals.

According to him, nutritionists could help ensure that meals prepared for patients and other vulnerable groups meet appropriate nutritional requirements.

He said such an approach could simultaneously improve food services and create additional employment opportunities for qualified nutritionists.

Hamukwaya said nutritionists have so far chosen to engage government through formal channels rather than staging demonstrations.

He said they have written to senior government officials and followed up on their concerns, but remain dissatisfied with the lack of clear action.

The issue has also received attention from Hon. Ester Haikola-Sakaria, MP, who has raised concerns surrounding nutritionists and their role in Namibia’s healthcare system.

Hamukwaya said the group could consider escalating the matter further if engagements with the Ministry of Health and Social Services fail to produce meaningful results.

He believes the government should invest not only in treating patients once they become sick, but also in preventing disease through nutrition and healthier lifestyles.

For Hamukwaya, the continued training of nutritionists should be matched by a health system capable of utilising their expertise.

“Something really needs to be done,” he said.

As Namibia continues to confront malnutrition alongside concerns about obesity and other diet-related diseases, Hamukwaya believes the country must reconsider how it deploys its nutrition workforce.

He argues that nutrition should be treated as an essential component of healthcare, with nutritionists given a meaningful role in preventing disease, improving patient outcomes and reducing the long-term pressure on Namibia’s healthcare system.