A viral claim that Namibia’s president rejected a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation proposal to conduct long-lasting hormonal IUD trials in the country has been officially debunked.
The Namibian Presidency labeled the viral social media posts as “fake news.” Spokesperson Jonas Mbambo confirmed that no such proposal was ever submitted or discussed by the government, and no rejection occurred.
While the Gates Foundation recently introduced a cost-effective IUD intended for deployment in countries like Kenya and Nigeria, Namibia was never approached.
The rumor falsely portrays Namibia as opposing family planning, which contradicts the administration’s stance favoring responsible, informed reproductive health measures.
Health misinformation like this plays on historical mistrust around reproductive policies in Africa, where past abuses have fueled resistance to foreign-led medical programs.
Experts stress the importance of verifying claims before sharing them, particularly as they can harm efforts to improve healthcare access and undermine trust in health systems.