By: Justicia Shipena
Former First Lady Monica Geingos has urged Namibians to be proactive and organise their wills as death can come unexpectedly.
She was speaking during the national memorial service of her late husband President Hage Geingob.
She emphasised that death is a humbling experience, stressing that individuals are not summoned by their creator at a time convenient for themselves or their loved ones.
“Please go and update your wills, and speak to your family about your preferences because death knocks unexpectedly,” she said.
She noted that decisions related to funeral arrangements are often made by individuals in a state of grief, which can strain relationships.
Geingos expressed gratitude to both her family and the Geingob family for successfully navigating the challenges in their relationship during this difficult time.
She emphasised that one’s departure occurs according to the divine plan, highlighting that the passing of her husband serves as a reminder for everyone to be prepared for the unexpected.
“I was not ready to lose Hage. And from the looks of the outpouring of grief from all of us, I would say you feel the same,” she stated.
In a sincere tribute to her husband, Geingos expressed that the President openly shared his emotions, and as a result, the nation mourned collectively. She highlighted that the late President’s openness has been beneficial to the country in various ways.
“And because he spoke to us about preferences regarding his legacy and expectations, from us as his immediate family it was easy to reach consensus on key discussions,” she said.
Geingos portrayed grief as a chaotic force, disrupting one’s mental, emotional, and physical state, allowing the mind and emotions to act spontaneously.
She illustrated the unpredictable nature of grief, where moments of normalcy can abruptly turn into overwhelming sadness, leaving one breathless.
Geingos emphasised that losing a loved one means losing a part of oneself, and the significance of that loss intensifies with the closeness of the relationship.
Additionally, she acknowledged the possibility of seeking mental health support to cope with grief and encouraged others to consider doing the same.
“I would encourage anyone who is struggling to shape off the feelings of sadness and loss to do the same,” she urged.
Geingob passed away on 4 February 2024, following a battle with cancer. His wife, Geingos, revealed that his struggle placed him at the forefront of witnessing the profound effects of cancer.
She noted that this challenging period necessitated extensive interactions with numerous exceptional Namibian doctors in recent weeks.
Geingos also emphasised that all the doctors she encountered shared concerns about the increasing instances of cancer in Namibia.
“A few mentioned that they were pleased to see an increase in men looking to be screened for cancer once the President announced that he had cancer,” said Geingos.
Earlier this month, three days before the President’s passing, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that in 2022, approximately 20 million new cases of cancer and 9.7 million deaths were recorded.
The WHO highlighted that around 53.5 million individuals were estimated to be alive within five years after receiving a cancer diagnosis. The global health organisation stated that roughly one in five people develop cancer during their lifetime, with approximately one in nine men and one in 12 women succumbing to the disease.
Furthermore, the WHO projected that by 2050, there would be over 35 million new cases of cancer, indicating a 77% increase from the estimated 20 million cases in 2022.
In response to these alarming statistics, Geingos emphasised that combating cancer will be one of her primary areas of focus.
“If anyone is watching mega trends in public health care, cancer care particularly the iniquities that define it should be a priority force area. It certainly will be for me.”
