Martha Namhadi is using her passion for running to spread a message of hope and raise awareness about drug abuse, carrying educational posters on her back during marathons and other running events.
Namhadi, founder of the non-profit organisation Fighting Against Drug Use in the Communities, campaigns against drug abuse by educating communities about the consequences of drug use while offering hope to people affected by addiction. Despite financial challenges that have limited her ability to travel to schools and communities across Namibia, Namhadi said she remains committed to reaching as many people as possible. “If my message can touch and inspire someone trapped in the darkness of drug addiction or prevent someone from starting, then I believe I am making a valuable contribution to my country and its people,” she said. As a runner,
Namhadi found a cost-effective way to continue her awareness campaign by carrying posters containing messages of education and hope during races. She said she has been running with the posters for years and received positive feedback from people who saw the messages and thanked her for spreading awareness. “Since I am a runner, I decided to find a cost-free way to conduct these campaigns by running with posters that carry messages of hope and education,” she said.
After using her previous poster for several years, Namhadi said she realised it was time for a new one. Boost Branding has since sponsored her with a new poster carrying a fresh message. Namhadi said she was excited about the new poster and hoped its message would reach people affected by addiction. “I’m very excited, and I really hope that someone will see the message on the poster and perhaps be inspired to change their life or help a loved one who is going through the journey of drug addiction,” she said.
She said drug abuse should also be addressed as part of broader efforts to tackle crime and violence in communities. “We are all concerned about the killings and the increasing levels of crime, but not many of us are willing to address the root causes behind these rising rates of crime and violence,” Namhadi said. She believes communities need to work together to support people struggling with addiction, particularly young people who may not have access to rehabilitation services. “We need to consider establishing more rehabilitation and recovery centres where they can receive the support they need to recover,” she said. Namhadi said many people affected by drug addiction are left on the streets because their families cannot afford private rehabilitation services.
She also called for drug education to begin at home from a young age, saying children should be taught about the dangers of drugs, so they are better equipped to resist peer pressure. “There are many people trapped in the darkness of drug addiction who need hope to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” she said. “Perhaps someone at the marathon might read the message of hope on the poster on my back and find the strength to break free from the chains of addiction or help their loved ones on the recovery journey.” Fayaaz Mahomed, Operations and Sales Manager at Boost Branding, said Namhadi approached the company and explained her campaign and what she hoped to achieve through it.
He said the company saw the initiative as an opportunity to give back to the community and contribute towards addressing drug abuse, which he described as a serious problem in Namibia. Mahomed said the fight against drug abuse requires collective action across generations and that Boost Branding wanted to play its part by supporting Namhadi’s awareness campaign. Christelle Kruger, Managing Member of Boost Branding, said businesses have a responsibility to support the communities in which they operate. “We don’t only operate in communities as businesses; we also need to support the communities in which we operate,” Kruger said. She said businesses should not only employ people from their communities but should also support those facing difficulties in their lives. Kruger thanked Namhadi for allowing Boost Branding to be part of the initiative and said the company was privileged to support the cause.
By Sharlien Tjambari
