Mashare is a settlement in the Kavango East Region of Namibia, just east of Rundu, the regional capital. It is the district capital of Mashare Constituency.[1]

Location of Mashare constituency (yellow) in the Kavango Region (dark grey) of Namibia

The settlement hosted a leprosarium until the early 1980s when the Namibian War of Independence led to its closure. The hospital accommodated thousands of patients with leprosy from Namibia, Angola, and Botswana.[2] Until today, Mashare is home to the biggest community of leprosy patients in Namibia who live together voluntarily due to their shared experience of stigma and isolation.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Smith, Jana-Mari (1 April 2011). "Leprosy: the reality in Namibia". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012.
  2. ^ Smith, Jana-Mari (1 April 2011). "Living with leprosy in Namibia". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2011.