Namibia News

Every year on 10 October, the global community observe World Mental Health Day (WMHD) to raise awareness of mental health issues  and mobilize efforts to support mental well-being. Mental health encompasses a state of well-being that enables people to cope with life's stresses, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their communities.

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.

On 25 April every year, the world comes together to share information and experiences on malaria prevention and control, and to celebrate key milestones achieved in the fight against malaria. The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) commemorated World Malaria Day at Khorixas, in the Kunene region on 14 August 2024 under the global theme “Advancing health equity, gender equality and human rights” and the national theme “Ensuring safe communities with zero malaria”.

The World Health Organization (WHO) with support from the Government of Japan, partnered with the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) to conduct the African Vaccination Week in the Omaheke region, from 05 – 09 August 2024.  This initiative served as a crucial platform to raise awareness about the importance of vaccines, combat vaccine hesitancy and amplify vaccination activities. The Omaheke region faces escalating malnutrition cases and a challenging landscape for providing essential health services including immunization.

On 02 August 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) in partnership with the Government of Japan donated cervical cancer screening instruments to the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) in the Omaheke region. The donation was made under the Japan-funded project titled Increasing Access to Quality Nutrition and Protection Services for Vulnerable Populations including women and children, which aims to increase access to nutrition interventions to prevent and manage malnutrition among women and children. 

In 2022, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) developed the National Quality Policy and Strategy (NQPS) and the National Healthcare facilities Quality Standards (HQS) to strengthen healthcare service quality in support of its overarching vision and mission. The objective of the Hospital Quality Standards (HQS) in Namibia is to enhance the quality and safety of healthcare services, ensuring consistent, effective, and patient-centered care delivery across all hospitals to improve overall health outcomes.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) is committed to improving the quality of healthcare services across Namibia. In collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Namibia, and other stakeholders, MoHSS has rolled out the National Primary Health Care Quality Standards. The quality standards aim to improve the quality of healthcare services at the PHC level by ensuring patient safety, providing client-centered care, strengthening health management systems and promoting health equity.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) with support from World Health Organization (WHO) Namibia, commemorated the World No Tobacco Day on 31 May 2024 in Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region. The event was held under the theme “Protecting children from the tobacco industry interference”, which aimed to advocate against targeting youth with harmful tobacco products and to raise awareness among communities, school children, and businesspersons on the danger of smoking and selling tobacco products to underage children. 
 

On 20 June 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Namibia, Dr. Richard Banda paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Health and Social Services, Honorable Dr. Kalumbi Shangula. The meeting aimed to cement the existing partnership between the Ministry of Health and Social Services and WHO under the new leadership and affirm commitments to ensuring health for all.