Namibia News

The Honorable Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Juliet Kavetuna on 05 October 2017 launched the Namibia 2014-2015 Health Accounts Report.  This report presents the findings of Namibia’s Health Accounts exercise for the 2014/15 fiscal year, which is Namibia’s fifth round of Health Accounts and is the second round conducted using the System of Health Accounts (SHA) 2011 methodology. The report is the result of well-planned and organized multidisciplinary efforts of the different players including WHO.

The increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is evident in most developing countries and Namibia is no exception. Cancer is one of the four major NCDs with cervical, breast, and prostate cancer being amongst the top 5.  

Although data on the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) burden in the general population of Namibia in not year available, in Southern Africa, about 3.2% of women in the general population are estimated to harbour cervical HPV-16/18 infection at a given time.   61.8% of invasive cervical cancers are attributed to HPVs 16 or 18.  

Expectant mothers in the Kunene region will soon be able to have better access to safe delivery services. The Opuwo Town Council signed a contract with Hauseb Construction JV Ya Kandundu Investments on 28 September 2017 for the construction of the Maternity Waiting Home.  The contract signing was followed by the handing over of the site to the contractor for works to commence and the much awaited Maternity Waiting Home will be completed in February 2018. 

Partners in Namibia meet to adapt WHO Global Medical Eligibility Wheel (MET) for contraceptive use into national guidelines.  The promotion of family planning and ensuring access to preferred contraceptive methods for women and couples is essential to securing the well-being and autonomy of women, while supporting the health and development of communities.