The World Health Organization (WHO) Representative and the Japanese Ambassador to Namibia visited the Ohangwena region on 30 March 2023 for a field trip to observe the progress made in addressing malnutrition. The delegation was led by the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Esther Muinjangue. 

The Japanese government through the office of the Ambassador injected approximately N$ 2,6 million into the Ministry of Health and Social Services to address malnutrition while the WHO provided the technical support to successfully implement the project.

Meanwhile, through the ‘Mitigating the impact of multiple emergencies on the nutritional status and health of women and children in selected regions of Namibia’  Project,  WHO supported the Ministry of Health and Social Services to respond to the impact of multiple emergencies on the nutritional status and health of women and children that were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and contribute to Namibia’s efforts to attain Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good health and wellbeing) and SDG 2 (zero hunger). 

The project was rolled out in the Ohangwena, Khomas, Hardap, Omusati, Oshana and Oshikoto regions. The project was aimed at strengthening interventions to prevent and manage moderate and acute malnutrition among women and children in health care facilities and in the community in the emergency-affected regions, 

The activities implemented during the nutrition project include strengthening the implementation of the Baby Friendly Hospital initiative to improve breastfeeding of new-born babies and infants. Other activities included strengthening the capacity of community-based health workers in providing nutrition services to women and children in the community.

The project also focused on increasing awareness of nutritional practices through Risk Communication and Community Engagement interventions. Additionally, the project sought to improve the quality of antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience and administer interventions to prevent and treat malnutrition in pregnancy. Also, through this project nutritional assessment equipment worth approximately N$ 2 million were procured and delivered to the Ministry of Health and Social Services. 
 
During the field visit, the WHO Representative, Dr. Charles Sagoe-Moses said It was an honour to witness  the demonstration of service and how the implemented interventions benefitted  the intended community of the Engela health district of the Ohangwena region, he also expressed his  gratitude to the Japanese government for the generous support.  

In his remarks, the Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Hisao Nishimaki said: “the government of Japan was committed to assisting the Ministry of Health and Social Services and the WHO in Namibia to ensure that the nutrition and health of women and children are prioritized through the Project”. 

The Governor of the Ohangwena region, Walde Ndevashiya, expressed gratitude to the MOHSS for selecting Ohangwena region as one of the beneficiaries of the project.  

The Governor also urged development partners on the project to think about making long-term investments to maintain positive outcomes and prevent them from being short-lived,” said Ndevashiya. 

The Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Esther Muinjangue detailed that the Ministry conducted assessments before the implementation of the project. Muinjangue was also pleased with the outcome of the project thus far. 

The delegation also had the opportunity to visit the communities in which the project was implemented. In attendance at the formal ceremony were community leaders and members, the diplomatic corps as well as officials from the Ministry of Health and Social Services.