Namibia News

During an engagement with media houses on responsible reporting of suicide and suicide attempts, the Ministry of Health and Social Services reported that 1474 Namibians had lost their lives by suicide over the past three years.

The media dialogue was a response to what appeared to be a suicide contagion following media reports of suicide by influential figures. Exposure to suicide or suicidal behaviour within one's family, one's peer group, or through media reports of suicide can increase suicide and suicidal behaviour.

On 14 November 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) joined the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) in commemorating World Diabetes Day under the theme “Diabetes Across Life Stages”. Held at the UN Plaza in Katutura, the event served as a reminder that every person living with diabetes should have access to integrated care, supportive environments, and policies that promote health, dignity, and effective self-management. The day underscored the importance of a comprehensive, life-course approach to diabetes prevention, management and overall well-being.

On 13 October 2025, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) officially launched its Strategic Plan for 2025/26–2029/30 together with Namibia’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Policy in Windhoek. The launch marked a significant milestone in the country’s health reform agenda, underscoring a renewed commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and partnership. It also advanced the national vision of “World Class Health for All,” anchored in the fundamental right of every Namibian to access quality health services without financial hardship.

Namibia officially launched the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) 2025 on 18 November, joining the global community in marking the annual campaign held from 18 to 24 November. The theme for 2025, “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future”, emphasized the urgent need for bold, coordinated action to address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR was highlighted as an immediate and escalating challenge affecting health systems, food production, the environment and economies worldwide.

The World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a week-long assisted self-benchmarking exercise aimed at strengthening Namibia’s national regulatory system for medical products. Held in Windhoek from 20 to 24 October 2025, the assisted self-benchmarking used the WHO Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT) to review the maturity of the country’s regulatory functions and to identify the strengths of the system and priority areas for improvement.

Public Health Emergency Operations Centres (PHEOCs) are essential platforms for managing the full spectrum of the Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) cycle, from preparedness and detection to response, recovery and post-event evaluation. As centralized hubs for multisectoral and multidisciplinary coordination, PHEOCs enable countries like Namibia to anticipate, monitor and respond to health threats with agility and efficiency.

The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), supported the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) to conduct a two-day orientation workshop in the Zambezi region. The training focused on the legal and policy framework for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV), from 3 - 4 November 2025. The workshop followed similar sessions held in the Kunene and Ohangwena regions during the week of 27 – 31October 2025.

Gaborone, Botswana - Eight Southern African countries – Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe are joining forces to Prevent, detect and respond to disease outbreaks before they spread to communities.

“In 2020, I underwent screening and was told that I had lesions, so I was put on treatment,” said Wendy Kalima, a 43-year-old woman from Sibbinda village in Namibia’s Zambezi region. After completing her treatment course, Kalima was scheduled for a follow-up in 2023, but due to unforeseen circumstances, she could not attend. “Today, I decided to come for follow up screening, and I was told that I am fully treated. I no longer have lesions,” she said with excitement. “I am going to encourage my fellow community members to go for screening.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, successfully conducted Namibia’s second Joint External Evaluation (JEE) from 20–24 October 2025. The evaluation assessed the country’s national capacities to prevent, detect, report and respond to public health threats and provided an opportunity for the country to develop evidence-based priority actions to review and update the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) 2021–2025 strategy that will come to an end this year.