Medical school’s cadaver shortage prompts donation appeal

The University of Namibia (UNAM) is grappling with a shortage of cadavers for medical training, prompting the institution to appeal to the public for donations. UNAM reportedly has only five cadavers for teaching purposes, including three on loan from South Africa.

The university requires at least 10 cadavers annually for effective teaching and learning.

UNAM recently made an impassioned plea for body donations in one of the biggest local daily newspapers, The Namibian. In a story with the headline ‘UNAM appeals for body donations to train Namibian doctors’, UNAM’s spokesperson for the school of medicine, Simon Namesho, is quoted as saying that the donation of bodies is gaining recognition in Namibia but that more are needed. The university reportedly prefers local donations because importing bodies involves high costs and complex legal arrangements.

Professor Judith Hall, executive dean of UNAM’s faculty of health science and veterinary medicine, stressed that “there is no pressure on anyone to donate”.

“Here, in the faculty of health sciences and veterinary medicine in UNAM, we understand personal preferences and cultural influences on the decision to donate your body to science and medicine after death,” she told University World News.

“However, if you do decide to donate, you will be helping us train future African doctors, dentists, allied health professionals, pharmacists, and nurses,” Hall said. “Remember, every step of the donation process is handled with respect and care.”

Bioethics

Dr Jillian Gardener, a bioethics expert based at the Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, acknowledged that fears of disrespect of cadavers can impede the prospects of body donation.

“While some individuals may be unaware of the possibility or process of donating their bodies to science, for many [others] the decision not to donate is rooted in deeply held beliefs about death, bodily integrity, and burial. Additionally, historical mistrust of institutions and concerns about disrespectful handling of remains can reinforce hesitation.”

Gardener noted that shortages of cadavers were not unique to Namibia. “Shortages of cadaveric donations in medical schools across Sub-Saharan Africa often result from a complex interplay between limited public awareness and cultural or religious reluctance.” Many African societies hold strong cultural and religious views about the body after death, she added.

“The body is often seen as more than a biological vessel. It plays a vital role in spiritual continuity and familial identity. In such contexts, practices like body donation may be viewed as potentially disrupting ancestral peace or contravening traditional burial obligations.

“Moreover, some religions may view such practices as incompatible with doctrinal teachings on resurrection or bodily sanctity.”

While she wouldn’t speak specifically on the Namibian context, Gardener said, generally, there is often a profound moral imperative to treat the deceased body with reverence.

Burial rituals “are not merely symbolic but are regarded as necessary to maintain social order and spiritual harmony”.

Consequently, Gardener said, “body donation, which may delay burial or involve dissection, is frequently regarded as an unacceptable deviation from the norms of dignity, remembrance and ancestral respect”.

The importance of cultural sensitivity

She cautioned that any initiatives seeking to promote body donations should be culturally sensitive and include community engagement. “Collaborating with religious leaders, traditional authorities, and local ethicists is essential to foster trust,” she said. “Transparent processes, meaningful rituals of recognition for donors, and assurance of respectful treatment can help address the moral and spiritual concerns communities may have.”

She believes it is best to frame body donation as a “legacy of service to future generations, rather than as a clinical or anonymous transaction”, an approach that can encourage more positive attitudes.

The impact of the shortage on students

The shortage of cadavers affects the practical aspects of what medical students can be taught, Dorthea Nangolo, president of the Namibia National Students Organisation, told University World News. It is critical for medical students to “experience human anatomy and not something that is plastic or a makeshift structure that is there for them to experiment on”.

But she acknowledged the fears and concerns. “It’s a very sensitive topic in our country, primarily because our traditional norms dictate that human bodies must be buried or cremated and nothing beyond that,” she told University World News. This makes it difficult to encourage donations.

To counter this, Nangolo suggested, the school of medicine and other relevant organisations could strive to desensitise the public to body donation and help people understand the importance of donation to science and by clearly explaining the steps in the donation process.