Namibia News

A case of Guinea worm disease (GWD) was confirmed in Angola in June 2018.  The case, an eight-year girl, hails from the Cunene Province in Angola, which borders Ohangwena and Omusati Regions in Namibia.  In response, Angolan authorities, with WHO support, carried out further case searches in three southern provinces of the country, including Cunene. During the exercise, a suspected case was detected who, at the time of her illness, had travelled to Engela in Ohangwena Region for a wedding and was treated at the Engela District Hospital.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has recommitted itself to ending the Hepatitis E Outbreak which has claimed 41 lives since December 2017. A National Health Emergency Management Committee was activated since confirmation of the outbreak and the Ministry has engaged partners and mobilized resources to respond to the outbreak. Despite these control measures, the disease persists and has now spread to more than 7 of the 14 regions of the country.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia, Dr Saara Kuungongelwa-Amadhila, launched the National Strategy on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases recently  in Windhoek.  The Strategy aims to reduce the preventable and avoidable burden of morbidity, mortality and disability due to non-communicable diseases in the country.  

Staff members from WHO AFRO’s Communicable Disease Cluster (CDS) undertook a viral hepatitis baseline assessment mission in support of Namibia Ministry of health from 12th to 16th February 2018.

The objectives of the mission were to assess the currently existing policies and practices on hepatitis control in order to facilitate the initiation and scale-up the viral hepatitis response in Namibia.

Every year globally, 180-200 million women become pregnant with 287,000 of these resulting in maternal deaths. More than 99% of maternal deaths occur in developing countries and 56% of these deaths are in Sub-Saharan Africa, affecting women living in rural areas and among poorer communities.  In Namibia the current estimate of maternal mortality ratio is from the World Health Statistics indicating 265/100,000 per live births. These deaths could be avoided if pregnancy and delivery are attended by skilled health workers at all levels of the health care delivery system.

The WHO Country Representative in Namibia, Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses was invited by the Chief Executive Officer of the City of Windhoek to address the City Council and management on the Hepatitis E Outbreak.  The invitation emulated from a consultation between WHO and the City as part of WHO’s advocacy to increase support towards the National Response Plan to contain the Hepatitis E outbreak.  

WHO Country Representative in Namibia, Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses paid a courtesy call to the Regional Governor of the Khomas Region, Honorable Laura Mcleod-Katjirua to harness her office support to the Hepatitis E Outbreak.  In welcoming the WHO delegation, the Governor expressed her office’s and the regional council’s demonstrated committed to containing the outbreak.  She informed the meeting that upon return from the Christmas break they consulted with the City Council to update themselves on the status of the outbreak and the response.

The engagement of different cadres of community leaders continues to be a priority intervention in the containment of the Hepatitis E outbreak.  A total of 10 meetings were held with various community leaders including, leaders of 20 and 30 households, councilors,  traditional healers and traditional birth attendants, in Havana and Goreagab settlements. These meetings were facilitated by the Regional Councilors with support from the Ministry of Health and Social Service, City of Windhoek and WHO.

The Minister of Health and Social Services at a recent press briefing reiterated his ministry’s commitment to contain the Hepatitis E outbreak. 

The President of the Republic of Namibia, His Excellency Dr Hage Geingob accompanied by the Honorable Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Benhard Haufiku, visited the epicenter of the Hepatitis E outbreak in Havana settlement.    During his visit the President stressed the importance of community ownership in maintaining sanitation facilities constructed for their use and responsibility to maintain both personal and environmental hygiene.  He said that the settlement is illegal hence  service provision is limited and is compelled by the movement of people to this area.