Day: February 15, 2024

The Department of Health has encouraged healthcare workers and communities to be mindful of early signs of childhood cancer.

Identifying these signs, according to the department, can lead to early detection and the successful management of childhood cancers, resulting in better outcomes.

The call was made as South Africa joins the global community in commemorating International Childhood Cancer Day on Thursday to raise awareness about childhood cancers and to express support for children and adolescents living with cancer, survivors, and their families.

The day is observed on 15 February annually to highlight the vital role of community engagement and support in addressing the complexities associated with childhood and adolescent cancer.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 1 000 children are diagnosed with cancer every day around the globe.

Meanwhile, it is estimated that 1 000 new cases of child cancer are recorded annually by the South African Children’s Tumour Registry (SACTR),
but many are missed and do not receive treatment.

‘Parents, educators, general practitioners and paediatricians play a crucial role in early detection of childhood cancers,’ the department explained.

According to the department, knowing the early signs of childhood cancers is important.

These include a white spot in the eye or sudden blindness, a lump on any place on the body mostly on the stomach, unexplained fever or weight loss, aching bones and easy fractures, and a change in walk and headache with or without vomiting.

The common childhood cancers in South Africa are leukaemia, lymphoma, brain tumours, eye and kidney tumours.

The department in collaboration with the South African Association of Paediatric Haematology of Oncology (SAAPHO), WHO and CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA acknowledge and commend the significant contributions made by various stakeholders, including the medical community, civil society, parent groups, non-governmental organisations and individual members of society.

CHOC CEO
, Hedley Lewis, said these contributions support children and adolescents with cancer, survivors, and their families.

‘Cancer impacts negatively on siblings and other family members. The challenges these families face extend beyond medical treatment, encompassing emotional, physical and social, financial, educational, and long-term health effects,’ she explained.

According to the Chair of the South African Association of Paediatric Haematology Oncology, Professor Gita Naidu, there is a need to raise primary health care and community awareness of Siluan’s early warning signs of childhood cancers especially among parents, caregivers and educators.

‘Early diagnosis and swift referral to treating centres is imperative to improve the outcomes of this dreaded disease. Childhood cancer is curable, but only if diagnosed and treated timeously,’ Naidu added.

The WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC), launched in 2018, aims to improve the overall survival to 60% globally by 2030 and allow these children
and adolescents to live and die without pain and suffering.

‘South Africa remains committed to focusing on childhood cancer and is aligned with the WHO-GICC goals.’

The statement stated that SAAPHO and CHOC are hosting SIOP Africa in Johannesburg from 4 to 8 June 2024.

The conference is an opportunity to share knowledge, collaborate, and engage with stakeholders nationally, on the continent and globally to improve the lives of children and adolescents with cancer.

Source: South African Government News Agency

NOMTSOUB: The Opawa Junior Secondary School (JSS) in Tsumeb on Wednesday held a memorial service in honor of the late President Hage Geingob, who had served as a teacher there before going into exile.

The school’s principal, Lameck Masule at the event said the teaching and learning activities of the school were cancelled on Wednesday in order to dedicate the day to Geingob’s legacy.

Masule said the late president was a teacher at the school for upper primary in 1962.

‘The president also taught music to the learners in grade one until grade ssix that same year,’ he said.

The teachers and learners gathered in their school hall on Wednesday, where several speeches, songs and emotional stories from Geingob’s former learners, political followers and religious leaders were shared.

Two of Geingob’s former learners who spoke at the event are 69-year-old Betty Kaula and the 70-year-old Manuel Uiseb.

The two also sang one of Geingob’s favorite songs he taught them in 1962.

Former Deputy Minister of Information a
nd Communication Technology, Engel Nawatiseb, as well as the Tsumeb Constituency Councillor, Gottlieb Ndjendjela were also present at the memorial service.

Nawatiseb told the gathering that in November 2014 Geingob last visited Opawa JSS to remember his youthful days at the school where he was a prominent teacher.

The school in 2024 has a total of 671 learners and 24 teachers including the school principal.

The gathering also shared stories on how generous Geingob was, saying he even purchased a Toyota Hilux 2.0 single cab for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia’s Exodus ll Parish church at Tsumeb.

‘The vehicle is still operational and it often serves the church as a means of transport for its members,’ said Dean Frans Nawatiseb at the event.

Geingob was a member of the church, he said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

NOMTSOUB: The Opawa Junior Secondary School (JSS) in Tsumeb on Wednesday held a memorial service in honor of the late President Hage Geingob, who had served as a teacher there before going into exile.

The school’s principal, Lameck Masule at the event said the teaching and learning activities of the school were cancelled on Wednesday in order to dedicate the day to Geingob’s legacy.

Masule said the late president was a teacher at the school for upper primary in 1962.

‘The president also taught music to the learners in grade one until grade ssix that same year,’ he said.

The teachers and learners gathered in their school hall on Wednesday, where several speeches, songs and emotional stories from Geingob’s former learners, political followers and religious leaders were shared.

Two of Geingob’s former learners who spoke at the event are 69-year-old Betty Kaula and the 70-year-old Manuel Uiseb.

The two also sang one of Geingob’s favorite songs he taught them in 1962.

Former Deputy Minister of Information a
nd Communication Technology, Engel Nawatiseb, as well as the Tsumeb Constituency Councillor, Gottlieb Ndjendjela were also present at the memorial service.

Nawatiseb told the gathering that in November 2014 Geingob last visited Opawa JSS to remember his youthful days at the school where he was a prominent teacher.

The school in 2024 has a total of 671 learners and 24 teachers including the school principal.

The gathering also shared stories on how generous Geingob was, saying he even purchased a Toyota Hilux 2.0 single cab for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia’s Exodus ll Parish church at Tsumeb.

‘The vehicle is still operational and it often serves the church as a means of transport for its members,’ said Dean Frans Nawatiseb at the event.

Geingob was a member of the church, he said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa says despite challenges, the lives of millions of South Africans have been transformed since the dawn of democracy in 1994.

The President was delivering his reply to the State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate held at the Cape Town City Hall.

‘The debate in this House over the last two days has shown that there are sharp differences among political parties about our past. There are also sharp differences about our present and indeed about our future as well.

‘Yet amongst all the contributions made in the debate, no speaker has been able to refute a fundamental reality that the lives of millions of South Africans have been transformed over the 30 years of freedom. This is the reality… whether we like it, or we don’t like it, that is the reality we confront,’ he said on Thursday.

The President said the transformation of South African lives can be found in the recent national census conducted by Statistics South Africa, which shows ‘extraordinary improvements on a range of social
and economic indicators over the past three decades’.

‘This transformation is most evident in the lived experience of our people, who have witnessed the changes in their own communities and who have also witnessed the changes in their own personal lives,’ he said.

Facing challenges

President Ramaphosa acknowledged that although progress has been made, there are critical issues that need to be addressed with urgency.

‘We need to celebrate the fact that young people… have had the opportunities that were never available before. But we also need to recognise, as we did in the [SONA] that young people… still have many challenges.

‘Despite everything we have achieved, many South Africans, young and old, are concerned about the state of affairs in our nation, and rightly so. Many people cannot find jobs. Even people with jobs wonder if they will be able to provide for their families as the cost of living increases,’ he said.

The President further acknowledged other challenges, including crime, load shedding, c
orruption and municipalities that are struggling to deliver services. He said the sixth administration is hard at work to resolve these issues.

He listed gains that government has made in sectors, including in the economy, tourism and the agricultural sectors as measures of progress

‘Over the last five years, we have made significant progress in restoring our economy to grow and create jobs. When COVID hit, our economy tanked and just to demonstrate the resilience of our economy, it bounced back and now it is above the pre-COVID period.

‘We have seen the results of these efforts in the growth of our agricultural exports. In 2022, South Africa’s agricultural exports reached a record $12.8 billion or R247 billion and we are the top food secure country on our continent.

‘We have seen a massive increase in international tourists coming to our country. Between January and December last year, our country recorded 8.5 million international tourist arrivals, which was a 29% increase on the previous year,’ he said
.

He assured the country that government will remain steadfast in its quest to ‘build a better life for all of democracy’s children’.

‘As a nation, we continue to write the story of Tintswalo. Through our collective actions, through our sheer determination, we will ensure that all the Tintswalos of this country, together with their parents and grandparents, overcome the many challenges of the present.

READ | Tintswalo, a child of democracy

‘It is by working together that we will continue to write the story of our free nation and of a future of peace, comfort and prosperity for all,’ he said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

WINDHOEK: The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) in the Khomas Region are investigating an armed robbery incident after a group of five suspects allegedly robbed security guards who were collecting money from various companies at the Grove Mall in Windhoek on Wednesday.

The stolen money, according to NamPol spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, amounts to N.dollars 305 987.50.

‘It is alleged that three security officers who belong to Namibia Protection Service started collecting money from various companies at about 08h00 and at about 10h06, one officer went to collect two boxes of money from the Checkers shop, while the driver remained in the vehicle. On his way back, he put the boxes on the ground to open back of their vehicle. Suddenly he saw a group of five armed robbers approaching him armed with pistols and one AK47, who ordered him to lay down. The driver was also ordered to do the same,’ Shikwambi said.

The suspects used a white sedan with different government registration numbers as a get
away vehicle.

The security personnel did not sustain any injuries but their service pistols were stolen by the robbers in the process.

Police investigations continue.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) has uncovered the theft of fuel valued at over N.dollars 1 million at the National Oil Storage Facility at Walvis Bay.

This is according to a press statement issued by the corporation on Wednesday.

‘This follows the loading of 39 993 litres of diesel ADO 50 ppm in December 2023 and 39 891 of the same product in January 2024. Despite loading documents suggesting that the two loads were destined for a customer site, there is no evidence of the product having arrived or received by the bulk fuel customer. Namcor has conducted an extensive internal investigation, which included theft of fuel,’ the statement reads.

A case of theft was opened last week at the Walvis Bay Police Station. The statement further stated that the truck driver who transported the two loads resigned last week.

Namcor’s Interim Managing Director, Ebson Uanguta, said the company is committed to leaving no stone unturned in addressing this unbecoming behaviour.

‘We are worki
ng around the clock to ensure that the culprits responsible for this bear the full consequences of their actions. There is a legal and moral obligation imposed upon Namcor to operate in accordance with the highest standards commensurate with a national oil company,’ Uanguta said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The example set by late President Hage Geingob, who made his health status public, serves to encourage Namibians to seek healthcare on time, which may lead to early detection of illness and treatment.

Before his untimely death on 04 February 2024, the late president announced on 24 January that cancerous cells were detected in his body following a biopsy.

This, according to Executive Director of the Health and Social Services Ministry, Ben Nangombe, demonstrates that Geingob was a champion of the wellbeing of the Namibian people.

‘He led by example; as we remember, he was not shy about promoting the importance of how Namibians must seek healthcare on time so that if there are ailments in their bodies, they are detected early. And he was courageous enough to share the status of his health condition with the Namibian people,’ Nangombe said in an interview with Nampa.

By making his diagnosis public, Nangombe said it underscores Geingob’s selflessness, as he encouraged others to get diagnosed early
because prevention is better than cure.

‘We commend him for that; that is the enduring and indelible legacy that President Geingob leaves behind. It is a great contribution to public health not only in Namibia but also in Africa and on a global scale,’ said Nangombe.

The former president’s declaration of his health status and his subsequent trip for cancer treatment overseas prompted calls to strengthen public health institutions to improve access to healthcare.

Nangombe stated that the Health Ministry has begun implementing recommendations in the Health Systems Strengthening Report, which was approved by Geingob’s Cabinet.

President Geingob launched the comprehensive five-year plan worth N.dollars 16 billion in November 2023 to enhance the country’s public health system.

As part of the implementation process, which is done in phases, Nangombe said the ministry has started with the construction of the 500-bed Windhoek district hospital.

The plan that was conducted in 2022 considered the availability of
human resources, pharmaceutical and clinical supplies, medical equipment, and the general administration of the public healthcare system.

In 2018, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila launched the national strategy on non-communicable diseases, which informed the ministry how to deal with diseases like cancer and hypertension, while it also seeks to raise awareness by encouraging Namibians to go for early testing.

He said the oncology centre at the Windhoek Central Hospital has state-of-the-art equipment, such as a computed tomography scanner, to detect cancer and can be used to set up a treatment plan for the patients.

In addition, the ministry has ordered a new Cobalt-60 from Canada to be installed in the chemotherapy section next month. The machine used for radiation therapy will replace the older one that has reached its lifespan.

‘The example set by President Geingob in terms of the importance of early detection has been tremendous. It encourages others to find the courage and strength to get te
sted so that they can be treated,’ said Nangombe.

The technologies are available to the Namibian people free of charge.

‘Even where we have to refer State patients to private health facilities, the State carries the cost. So it is up to the people to come forward and get tested,’ Nangombe added.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency