Placido Hilukilwa
THE plea for help from Selma Kandiwapa Ambunda, a 21-year-old nursing and midwifery student and mother of recently born triplets, has attracted an overwhelming response from Namibians offering material and financial support, words of encouragement, and well wishes for the babies and their mother.
The triplets’ grandmother, Nyanyukwenoi Ambunda, said that people started calling on Monday immediately after Informanté published the story about Selma, who faced the challenge of being a student while also caring for her newborn triplets.
The grandmother said that she is documenting all the support received for the purpose of providing a full public account.
The triplets’ father, Mathias Mofuka, is unemployed and unable to provide assistance.
Peter Kanu Amadhila, an Outapi-based businessman, was one of the first people to offer assistance in his personal capacity. He pledged to support the triplets and their mother with N$2,000 per month for twelve months, with the instalment for March paid immediately.
According to Amadhila, the only condition is that the money be used for its intended purpose and that the mother briefs him at least once a month about the children’s well-being.
“Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders. They need our care and support,” he said, also appreciating the fact that Selma did not give up her studies despite discouraging and insensitive remarks from some members of the public.
Selma is a second-year nursing and midwifery student at the I-Care Health Institute, while Mofuka is a qualified but unemployed paramedic from Eenhana in the Ohangwena Region.
The three baby girls—Tulonga, Tulina, and Tuwilika—were delivered at Oshakati Intermediate Hospital on 22 December 2024.
Selma lives with her mother, who has been her sole provider, covering her studies and basic needs, as well as those of the babies.
