Namibia News

Windhoek, 30 September 2011 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) received a generous donation worth over N$240,000 from Rotary Windhoek and Rotary International to improve the immunization status of children aged under 5 years against vaccine preventable diseases in particular polio. The donation consisting of loudspeakers, Information, Education, Communication (IEC) materials and T-shirts was handed over to WHO during a Rotary Luncheon for members. The items are aimed at awareness raising and public health education on vaccine preventable diseases, particularly polio.

Windhoek, 1 June 2011 -- With less than two weeks to go for Namibia’s National Immunization Days (NIDs) the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) with support from line Ministries and development partners are accelerating efforts to finalize preparations. Namibia will be conducting its 15th year of NIDs in June and July 2011 which aims to immunize 320,000 under five-year old children from childhood illnesses, such as blindness and polio. Namibia’s NIDs is estimated to cost N$14 million annually.

Windhoek -- On 11 May, Namibia along with more than 150 countries worldwide launched the Global Decade of Action for Road Safety by initiating the Namibian Chapter of the Decade of Action 2011-2020, developed by the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) in collaboration the World Health Organization (WHO), the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund among other stakeholders. To symbolize the launch, a special commemorative postage stamp produced in collaboration with NamPost was unveiled.

Windhoek, 10 May 2011 -- The World Health Organization(WHO) Country office in Namibia and the Namibian Red Cross Society (NRCS) today announced its joint health strategy to respond to the flood emergency. Following a consultative meeting, both partners agreed for the need to intensify health promotion and hygiene education interventions, strengthen disease surveillance and ensure that communities access health services using both organizations’ key strengths.

Windhoek, 3 May April 2011 -- The World Health Organization has received nearly USD 251,000 ( N$1.7m) from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to respond to the health impact of the country’s worst flooding in decades. The floods have affected more than 230,000 people and as many as 40 health clinics and 180 outreach health points were rendered inaccessible in the regions of Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati, and Caprivi. Consequently, many flood-affected people particularly in isolated communities have limited to no access to health care.

Windhoek, 13 April 2011 --  “The worst flooding in decades has cut off thousands of people from health services”, said WHO Representative, Dr Magda Robalo, following a mission with Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Richard Kamwi to assess the health sector response thus far and areas requiring additonal support. The high-level team over this last weekend visited several health facilities in the four most affected flood regions: Omusati, Oshana, Ohangwena and Oshikoto.

Ondjiva 25 April 2011 -- On World Malaria Day, Namibia’s and Angola’s Health Ministers with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) signed a historical Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that launched the Trans-Kunene Malaria Initiative (TKMI). The MOU aims to strengthen cross-border collaboration to reduce malaria transmission to zero in the Trans-Kunene region comprised of Cunene and Namibe provinces in Angola and Kunene, Ohangwena, Omusati regions in Namibia.

Windhoek, 7 April 2011 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) commemorated World Health Day on 7th April under the theme “Combat Drug Resistance: “No action today, No cure tomorrow” and launched a six-point policy package that sets out the measures governments and their national partners need to combat drug resistance.

Luanda, 7 April 2011 -- The Angolan Minister of Health, Dr. José Van-Dunem, and the Minister of Health and Social Services of Namibia, Dr. Richard Kamwi, on Tuesday 5th April 2011 signed a joint statement in which they committed themselves to coordinating and improving health interventions along the borders between the two countries.

Windhoek, 5 April 2011 -- The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) will commemorate World Health Day from 6-7 April 2011 under the theme “Combat Drug Resistance: “No action today, No cure tomorrow”. Anti-microbial resistance (AMR) occurs when medicines that have proven to work are no longer effective to fight more lethal and tough germs.