Onandjokwe Medical Museum, sponsored by Eben Ezer Nursing Association, invited about 20 Onandjokwe pioneers of nursing from Oniipa community and afar to bring some Christmas gifts or food from their homes, which they shared with some 30 Onandjokwe expectant mothers, who were camped at Onandjokwe Hospital.
The aim of the gathering was to commemorate and remember the day 14 December, when a young Finnish missionary, Dr. Selma Rainio, arrived in 1908 at Oniipa from Finland.
Kuku Selma “Gwanandjokwe” Shejavali also spoke at the event and she encouraged all women with names “Selma” to keep respecting the legacy of Dr. Selma Rainio and history of Onandjokwe, “because she did something very important for our people in Northern Namibia, where she healed many people until she died.”
Kuku Shejavali also said that it is very important to care and look after Rainio’s grave, which is in an abandoned part of the cemetery behind Onandjokwe Hospital.
Dr. Rainio lived and worked at Onandjokwe Hospital, where she was the principal general practitioner, and earned the nickname “Gwanandjokwe” and a lot of children delivered at Onandjokwe Hospital during her time were named “Selma Gwanandjokwe” in honour of Rainio’s commitment to the health of the community in and around Oniipa.
Rev. Julius Mutuleni and Rev. Theopolina Amoomo led the short worship services.
During the event Rev. Mutuleni also announced that now Dr. Selma Rainio Foundation is fully established and it will soon start to raise funding for non-profit activities aimed at carrying on the legacy of Selma Rainio as well as preserving the Onandjokwe medical history.
Rev. Mutuleni also thanked Mr. Kleopas Nghikefelwa, a trained Theologian and Visual artist, with great museum work experience and passion to promote Onandjokwe Medical Museum and other cultural heritage activities in Northern Namibia.
Although Nghikefelwa’s short-term contract as curator of the museum, sponsored by Dr. Martti Eirola and his family and friends, is coming to an end on 30 December 2025, Mutuleni stated that he would like Nghikefelwa to come back in the new year if possible and continue serving at the museum.
Currently Onandjokwe Medical Museum has no operation budget or funds to cover its operational costs, salaries and other expenses.
To solve this situation The Selma Rainio Foundation is planned to be launched during Dr Rainio’s birthday commemoration on 22 March 2026, so that the Foundation may start raising funds which would assist in the operations of the Museum.
Some of the well-known Board of Directors nominated to run the Dr. Selma Rainio Foundation are Professor F. Amaambo, the Medical Doctor for Selma Rainio Medical Centre, Oniipa; Reverend W. Heinane, Director of Selma Rainio Medical Centre, Oniipa; Dr. T. Ithete, Medical Doctor of Ongwediva Medipark, Ongwediva; Dr. Petrus Mhata, retired Onandjokwe nursing pioneer and local businessman at Oniipa town; and Reverend Julius Mutuleni, retired ELCIN pastor, former superintendent of Onandjokwe Hospital, and founder of Onandjokwe Medical Museum.
Those who wish to make donations to the activities of the Dr. Selma Rainio Medical Centre and Dr. Selma Rainio Foundation, and the Onandjokwe Medical Museum were asked to contact REV. W. HEINANE, the DIRECTOR/CEO for DR. SELMA RAINIO MEDICAL CENTRE at Telephone 00264 65 248115/6/7.
In the photo: Some of the nursing pioneers who served at Onandjokwe Hospital in the 70s and 80s, with some young nurses committed to continue the legacy of Gwanandjokwe.
