About 70 child patients of Katutura and Windhoek Central state hospitals received an early Christmas in the form of toys, Christmas trees, as well as food and drinks over the weekend.

A local not-for-profit organisation, Aspirations.org, founded by Nokokure Kambanda Veii and her family visited the Windhoek Central Hospital's cancer ward on Saturday and the Katutura State Hospital's surgery, orthopaedic and dental wards on Sunday to donate toys to newborns, toddlers and patients aged up to 12 years.

The children were pleasantly surprised by the gifts and could not contain their excitement as Santa Claus handed out toys to them.

Veii explained that the donations are a contribution from her family, friends in Namibia as well as friends outside the country from as far as Canada and the United Kingdom.

Earlier in the year, Veii and her organisation also donated food to residents of the Havana informal settlement, as well as residents of Okakarara.

The organisation hands out hot soup and bread during the chilly winter months of the year and Veii hopes to continue with this initiative as an annual project.