Day: July 8, 2024

WINDHOEK: The Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN) has released new statistics revealing the impact of sarcoma and bone cancers on the Namibian population.

These types of cancers have affected approximately 361 per 100 000 Namibians over the past decade, translating to an average of 15 new cases annually.

The data indicates that sarcoma and bone cancers predominantly affect older Namibians, particularly those aged 65 and above.

CAN Chief Executive Officer, Rolf Hansen in an interview with Nampa on Monday said this demographic has seen the highest incidence rates, underscoring the need for targeted awareness and healthcare strategies.

Hansen stated that the numbers were presented in honour of July being designated as Sarcoma and Bone Cancer Awareness Month.

The purpose of the awareness month is to raise public awareness of these illnesses, encourage research efforts, and push for better resources and treatments for fellow Namibians who have been diagnosed.

‘Sarcoma is a type of cancer that originates in t
he bones and soft tissues, including fat, muscle, blood vessels, deep skin tissues, nerves, and fibrous tissues. It is relatively rare compared to other types of cancers. Therefore, it is more difficult to detect and start treatment timeously,’ he said.

In addition to sarcoma and bone cancer, Hansen emphasised the incidence of connective and soft tissue malignancies in Namibia. The country records an average of 48 new instances of these malignancies every year. These results indicate a greater concern about cancer incidence in the country, he said.

‘The Cancer Association of Namibia has stressed the significance of early detection and treatment. The organisation is advocating for improved public awareness and education efforts to help Namibians identify the signs and symptoms of these malignancies. Early diagnosis is critical in improving treatment outcomes and survival rates,’ he stated.

He also stated that research into the origins and treatments of sarcoma and bone tumours is ongoing. CAN promotes local
and worldwide research to better understand these malignancies. Namibia aspires to improve patient outcomes by contributing to the worldwide body of knowledge, Hansen said.

‘The increasing prevalence of sarcoma, bone, and soft tissue malignancies in Namibia is a major public health concern. The Cancer Association of Namibia is devoted to addressing this issue through increased awareness, early detection, better healthcare services, and research. The organisation’s efforts are critical in mitigating the impact of these cancers on Namibians,’ he said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

A 57-year-old woman collapsed and died on the spot in Rundu’s Ndama residential area on Sunday.

The Namibian Police Force’s Acting Regional Commander in Kavango East, Deputy Commissioner Eino Nambahu, confirmed the incident on Monday, saying the deceased has been identified as Elizabeth Kalola.

It is alleged that Kalola was on her way home after a church service around 13h50 when she fell and died on the spot.

Her next of kin have been informed.

In an unrelated incident, a two-month-old baby died at Shakambu village in the Kavango East Region in the early hours of Sunday.

It is alleged that the baby’s father found the baby’s mother asleep, with her breast covering the infant’s mouth and nose around 01h00 on Sunday.

It is believed that the woman was under the influence of alcohol when she went to bed.

The baby has been identified as Waltroud Makena Muronga.

Police investigations into both matters continue.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

OSHAKATI: Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Executive Director, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, has said a total of 121 079 cattle have been vaccinated against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) during the current financial year.

Nghituwamata during an engagement with various management heads within the ministry from all 14 regions at Oshakati on Monday, said of this number, 108 422 cattle were vaccinated in infected zones and 12 657 were vaccinated in protection areas.

Additionally, a total of 26 970 cattle were tagged with official ear tags by veterinary officials.

‘Animal disease surveillance is a major activity of the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS),’ she said.

She further added that routine active and passive surveillance activities include farm inspections, community visits, ante- and post-mortem inspections at abattoirs, supervision and livestock inspections at livestock auctions, export inspection and certification, and inspection of imported animals and animal products.

Meanwhile, Nghitu
wamata indicated that a total of 25 089 dogs and cats were vaccinated against rabies in the Northern Communal Areas (NCA) in the current financial year.

The engagement with the ministry’s various management heads ends on Friday.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The Ministry of Health and Social Service spends over N.dollars 100 million per year on dialysis services due to the limited number of public dialysis centres across the country.

Speaking at the Government Information Centre here on Monday, Minister of Health Kalumbi Shangula said Namibians have to travel long distances from different parts of the country to access dialysis services, mainly in Windhoek, while some State patients also referred to private dialysis centres, resulting in the government spending N.dollars 100 million per year.

He said the ministry has therefore decided to establish dialysis services at the Katutura Intermediate Hospital, Keetmanshoop, Rundu, Oshakati, Otjiwarongo, and Walvis Bay.

He added that the government has also approved the introduction of additional Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in all 34 district hospitals around the country, noting that before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were less than 25 ICUs in the public health sector.

‘More than 85 per cent of the Namibia
n population depend on public health and social services provided through hospitals, including 322 clinics, 56 health centres, 34 district hospitals, four intermediate hospitals, and one national referral hospital. There are more than 1 150 outreach points across the country,’ he said.

Shangula further noted that dental services are also being expanded. During the 2023/2024 financial year, the ministry has procured 13 operating tables, 20 electrocardiographs, 97 infant incubators, 20 dental chairs and dental x-rays, as well as 18 dental autoclaves.

The ministry, he said, equally commissioned a picture archive and communication system and radiology information system at a cost of N.dollars 19.3 million at the five referral hospitals to digitise the storage and transfer of patients’ imaging records.

Shangula also said the ministry installed oxygen-generating systems at different health facilities, including Onandjokwe; Mariental; Swakopmund; Okakarara, and St Mary’s Hospital in Rehoboth, as well as at hospit
als in Keetmanshoop; Okahao; Eenhana; Okongo and Andara.

The ministry is working around the clock to address diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and TB, he said, while calling on all Namibians to cooperate with the public health authorities to combat diseases that may occur in the communities.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The Ministry of Justice was on Monday scrutinised by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs over millions of dollars, originally allocated for purchasing the ombudsman’s building in Windhoek, that have not been unaccounted for.

The committee, chaired by Swapo Member of Parliament Tjekero Tweya, visited Ombudsman Basilius Dyakugha on Monday, a meeting also attended by Phulgentius Kahambundu from the Justice Ministry’s capital projects division. The committee is conducting a week-long visit and public hearings of capital projects.

Tweya questioned how the money was allocated and approved by Parliament for the purchasing of such a building between 2019 and 2020 and yet to date, a building was not purchased. He says Parliament was informed that such a building was purchased.

‘We want to see that particular property that has been bought. It is not complicated. If the money was spent but the purchase of that building is not there, somebody will have to account. That is
part of accountability. The community expects that infrastructure. At the end of the financial year no one tells them and they will just forget about it. We from legislation must now respond to the community,’ Tweya said.

Kahambundu said sale negotiations were halted after the building owner made a final offer of N.dollars 18 million, while the government’s valuation was N.dollars 11 million.

Private valuations stood at N.dollars 25 million.

‘We then wrote to the National Planning Commission to reassign the money to other national projects,’ he said.

‘Usually if you have not used that money, it is returned to treasury. Our records are currently that the money was budgeted for and that the property was purchased. The record should therefore have been corrected during the next financial report, but I don’t remember this being done,’ Tweya remarked.

Swapo parliamentarian, Phillipus Katamelo also grilled the justice ministry over the non-renewal of the rental contract since January 2024 to date. Over N.dolla
rs 3 million is spent annually in rental fees for the current building that houses the ombudsman’s office.

‘How are you as a ministry operating without a contract yet you are spending public funds monthly in rental fees?’ Katamelo questioned, adding that the ministry is currently spending more on rental fees then it would have for the purchase price.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) in the Oshikoto region has confirmed the death of a 29-year-old Namibian man after he was allegedly shot on the left side of the chest resulting from him attacking a 67-year-old man.

According to NamPol’s Crime Investigations Coordinator for the Oshikoto Region, Deputy Commissioner Titus Ekandjo on Sunday, the incident happened on Friday at around 01h05 at Okakwiyu village in the Oshikoto’s Onayena constituency.

The deceased was identified as Reinhold Shikongo.

‘It is alleged that the suspect was escorting two young girls from a wedding party and he got attacked by two young boys by beating him with sticks and fists, which led the suspect to draw out a pistol and shoot one of the boys on the right side of the chest,’ reported Ekandjo.

He further alleged that one of the boys, the victim’s friend, is a boyfriend to one of the girls.

‘The victim that was hospitalised but succumbed to his injuries on Friday at around 20h30 at the Onandjokwe District Hospital. His next of ki
n have been informed of his death, while the suspect sustained facial and head injuries after being assaulted by the two boys. He was not arrested but transferred to Onandjokwe District Hospital and was discharged from the hospital on Saturday,’ reported Ekandjo.

Police investigations continue.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency