Namibia News

The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) with support from World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a national training for trainers on the electronic surveillance (eSURV) Companion App in Swakopmund from 14 – 16 October 2024.

Renowned for its excellent road infrastructure, Namibia has been a leader on the African continent in road safety, aligning its vision with the global decade of action on road safety. However, the high death toll on the Namibia roads is a stark reminder that good roads are not sufficient to ensuring road safety. A comprehensive strategy is essential, including ongoing enhancements in road and vehicle design, strengthening of laws and their enforcement, and ensuring timely emergency care for the injured.

Windhoek – “The injury pattern did not match the father's account, so I involved a social worker,” recounts Julia Kaiyamo, a doctor at Katutura Health Centre in Windhoek, Namibia, of a recent case she treated. Kaiyamo’s assessment was informed by training she received on addressing child maltreatment.

Windhoek –Vakahoka Matundu of Otjerunda village, faced a crisis when her two-year old daughter was diagnosed with acute malnutrition. A community health worker identified the issue and quickly referred her to Opuwo District Hospital for treatment. Reflecting on the journey, Vakahoka shares, “The community health worker has been very helpful, visiting us regularly to check up on my child's progress. My child is doing well now, and we are up to date with her immunizations.”

Poliovirus surveillance is one of the key pillars of the global poliovirus eradication effort. The primary system to detect poliovirus transmission is surveillance for polio cases among individuals with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), supplemented by environmental surveillance (ES).

In October 2008, Namibia was certified polio free and continued to maintain its polio free status since then. However, the country remains at high risk of importations of vaccine derived polio viruses (VDPVs) and other vaccine preventable diseases due to sub-optimal immunization coverage.

During the week of 16 to 19 September 2024, an audit team from the World Health Organization (WHO) Laborator

Namibia observed the World Patient Safety Day (WPSD) on 17 September 2024 at the Intermediate Hospital Katutura (IHK). The event presents an opportunity to raise public awareness and foster collaboration between patients, health workers, policymakers, and healthcare leaders to improve patient safety. This year, the day was remembered under the global theme Improving Diagnosis for Patient Safety, which underscores the vital role of accurate and timely diagnoses in ensuring patient well-being.

The World Health Organization (WHO) in partnership with the Government of Japan supported the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) to conduct a three-day workshop in Swakopmund. Held from 09 – 11 September 2024, the workshop aimed to sensitize and orient the media on ethical reporting on health-related matters including promoting nutrition, emergency response reporting, addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC). A total of 15 journalists and media practitioners participated and were eager to enhance their understanding of health reporting.

In Namibia, nearly 35% of women are subjected to intimate partner violence and/or sexual violence.   The majority do not disclose the abuse but may seek health care because of the abuse.  This makes the health sector a critical player in the prevention and response to violence against women.

During July and August this year, the Ministry of Health, and Social Services (MoHSS) with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a community based cross-sectional Taenia Solium taeniasis mapping survey. The survey was funded by GIZ through the Expanded Special Project for the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Disease (ESPEN). The mapping survey was conducted in five northern regions namely Kavango West, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana and Oshikoto. The identified regions share common risk factors for T.