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From left to right Dean of the School of Medicine, Prof. Peter Nyarango, German Ambassador to Namibia Otto Huckmann, Managing Director of Air Namibia Ms. Theo Namases, The President of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Professor George Kausch, UNAM’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lazarus Hangula and Mr Fillemon Wise examine some of the microscopes that were donated to the Medical School. To the far right, a medical student can be seen using one of the microscopes. (Photograph by Daniel Kavishe)

From left to right Dean of the School of Medicine, Prof. Peter Nyarango, German Ambassador to Namibia Otto Huckmann, Managing Director of Air Namibia Ms. Theo Namases, The President of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Professor George Kausch, UNAM’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lazarus Hangula and Mr Fillemon Wise examine some of the microscopes that were donated to the Medical School. To the far right, a medical student can be seen using one of the microscopes. (Photograph by Daniel Kavishe)

The President of the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany recently donated laboratory equipment to the UNAM School of Medicine on behalf of his university. The Johannes Gutenberg University donated 45 microscopes, worth N$ 1,000,000 to the University of Namibia’s School of Medicine.
UNAM’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lazarus Hangula, explained at the handing over ceremony in Windhoek on Monday that the whole process started with his visit to the Johannes Gutenberg University in 2010. Professor George Kausch from that university, having heard that UNAM was setting up a School of Medicine, then made an offer of 45 microscopes for UNAM. Speaking to the Economist the Prof Hangula explained that the microscopes were received towards the end of last year and are used by the students in the laboratory. “35 microscopes are already being used between two labs, the others are in storage.” The microscopes were flown into the country free of charge by Air Namibia.
Dean of the Medical School Prof. Peter Nyarango who presided over the ceremony was quick to note that the microscopes will be put to good use. With other phases of the campus still under development, the Dean applauded the efforts of the German government in advancing the medical campus. The Dean also noted that there were other negotiations currently in play. He stated that discussions were taking place between the 2 universities to pursue the possible partnerships for the respective departments of computer science and for the faculties of agriculture.
An official inauguration and naming of the laboratory to which the equipment were donated also took place at the event. The laboratory to which the microscopes were donated have been named after Professor Kausch.
The visitors also had a private tour of the new building at the medical campus which is yet to be inaugurated. Informally known as life skills 2 building, the visitors viewed the state of the art facilities. The building contains a reasonable sized auditorium, an amphitheatre and several classrooms and laboratories. The building also contains a gym area which contains a solar heated pool in addition to the usual gym utilities.

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