By: Selma Taapopi

Following her father’s death due to lung cancer in 2010 and her mother’s sudden passing away, Dr Rachel Freeman, got a scare of her life, receiving a colon cancer diagnosis just a day after her mother’s passing away in July 2015 whilst embarking upon her doctoral degree journey in Palliative Care at the University of South Africa. 

Dr Freeman is the Head of UNAM Cares and a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Namibia, who advocates for Policy Development on Palliative in Namibia and for the integration of Palliative Care education, continuous professional development training for healthcare professionals and access to affordable palliative care services for those with life-threatening illnesses.