Namibia News

The World Health Organization (WHO) joined the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) and other stakeholders in the commemoration of World Mental Health Day under the global theme, “Access to Services: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies”. The observance highlighted the urgent need to address the mental health and psychosocial needs of people affected by humanitarian crises. The day also marked World Suicide Prevention Day under the theme “Changing the Narrative on Suicide” with the call to action, “Start the Conversation”.

The World Health Organization (WHO) visited the Namibia Blood Transfusion Service (NamBTS) Headquarters in Windhoek to gain an in-depth understanding of the organization’s operations and identify potential areas for closer collaboration. The visit, initiated by NamBTS, provided WHO an opportunity to observe the entire blood donation and transfusion value chain, from donor recruitment and collection to testing, processing and safe patient transfusion.

Violence against children in Namibia remains alarmingly high despite the government's commitment to ending it. 

The 2019 Namibia Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) shows that nearly 40% of girls and 45% of boys suffered from physical, sexual, or emotional abuse during childhood. Physical violence is the most widespread, affecting 32.9% of girls and 41.2% of boys before they turn 18. 

Tobacco use remains the single most preventable cause of death globally, claiming millions of lives each year and burdening health systems with avoidable disease.

In 2022, 11.2% of Namibians aged 15 and over were smokers, with a significantly higher prevalence among men (19.2%) compared to women (4.0%). Youth tobacco use remains a significant concern, with 31.1% of those aged 13-15 using tobacco products. Namibia loses approximately 1,700 lives each year due to tobacco-related diseases and faces substantial economic costs. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) actively participated in the first International Cancer Genomics Conference, held under the theme “Harnessing Functional Genomics in Cancer Research: Opportunities for Diagnosis and Treatment.” The conference took place from 24–26 September 2025 at the Hilton Hotel in Windhoek, Namibia, hosted by the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) in collaboration with the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) and endorsed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), with technical and financial support from the World Health Organization (WHO) through the Pandemic Fund Multi-Country Project, convened a comprehensive workshop from 25 to 29 August 2025 in Windhoek to review and update the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) training materials. The workshop aimed to align all training modules with the recently developed local guidelines on One Health and the Event Based Surveillance.

In a significant move to advance the health and well-being of women, children, and adolescents, Namibia’s Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, officially launched two key health policy documents on 9 October 2025 in Windhoek.

Namibia joined the global community in commemorating World Patient Safety Day 2025 under the theme “Safe care for every newborn and every child” and the slogan “Patient safety from the start!”. The national event held in Opuwo, Kunene Region, brought together government officials, development partners, health workers and communities to reflect on progress, renew commitments, and highlight collective action to protect the most vulnerable.

Windhoek ‒ Andra Chigova, a 10-year-old girl from Windhoek, Namibia, is encouraging other girls to get vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes most cervical cancers. “I just got my HPV vaccination today. Do not be scared ‒ the HPV vaccine will protect us in the future against cervical cancer,” she says.  

Strengthening Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) remains a key priority in Namibia, with several stakeholders actively supporting efforts to improve the accuracy and completeness of Mortality and Causes of Death data. Reliable mortality data is essential for understanding the country’s health profile, monitoring progress toward national and global health targets, and guiding evidence-based policy decisions.