Category: General

Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, has expressed concern over the increased maternal deaths, stillbirths and neonatal deaths in Namibia.

The minister was speaking on Thursday during the opening of the National Seminar on Neonatal Care in Swakopmund.

The one-day seminar provides an opportunity for experts and practitioners in the field of pediatrics and neonatology to exchange ideas and collaborate on innovative solutions to improve the health and wellbeing of newborn children in the country.

The 2022 Report into Maternal Deaths, Stillbirths and Neonatal deaths for April 2018 to March 2021, which was commissioned by the Health Ministry, reveals amongst others that a total of 145 maternal deaths were reported to the ministry, while a total of 1 066 stillbirths and 1 069 neonatal deaths were reported.

Additionally, 4 406 stillbirths and 2 572 neonatal deaths were captured through the ministry’s Health Information System.

According to Shangula, evidence shows that in every pregnanc
y there is a potential risk of complications and it is not always possible to determine which pregnant woman will develop complications.

‘Hence, skilled assistance before and during labour, delivery and the postpartum period is critical towards the reduction of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. It is for this reason that the government has crafted the plan titled Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) in order to address and reduce neonatal and maternal deaths,’ the minister outlined.

ENAP, which has specific targets and objectives to reduce maternal mortality, aims to reduce maternal deaths from 385 to at least 200 per 100 000 live births by 2018 and to 50 by 2035.

Shangula said that while progress has been made, these targets have not been fully met and more needs to be done if Namibia is to reach these targets by 2050.

The Health Director in the Erongo Region, Anna Jonas, said the provision of neonatal care can be complex, especially if healthcare workers are not equipped with proper knowledge a
nd skills on how to take care of the babies, as well as the ability to provide individualised care.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Sebastian Ndeitunga, the newly appointed Governor of the Ohangwena Region, has encouraged the region’s inhabitants to embrace and support him following his appointment by the president.

In an interview with Nampa on Wednesday, Ndeitunga urged the people of the region to accept him, saying he is their ‘son’ and will rely on them.

He stated that he is ready to take on the role of becoming the region’s new leader, adding that he is ready to build a formidable team that will look into all of the region’s concerns and pave new paths for solutions to some of the problems.

Ndeitunga admitted that finding solutions will not be easy because some of the region’s issues have been accumulating for some time, but said under his leadership, if people stand together and are disciplined and educated, they will break the cycle of poverty in the region.

He added that he has no reason not to accept the president’s appointment because he has a responsibility to the Namibian nation, the president and the region to ensure tha
t it performs in accordance with the government’s principle of providing quality, objective and partial services to inhabitants and visitors alike.

‘I feel very honoured and proud that his excellency, Dr Hage Geingob, chose me from a pool of seasoned public servants or civilians who are also able to be in the same position,’ he added.

The appointment of the former Namibian Police Force inspector general comes after President Hage Geingob relieved Walde Ndevashiya of his duties as Ohangwena Region Governor, effective 16 November 2023.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Ministry of Health and Social Services’ malaria ambassador for Oshikoto, Vilho Nuunyango, is determined to eradicate malaria in the region despite facing several challenges.

Nuunyango expressed this commitment during a courtesy visit to the office of Oshikoto Governor Penda Ya Ndakolo on Wednesday.

‘We want to fulfil our vision of eliminating malaria in the whole of Oshikoto by the end of this year,’ said Nuunyango.

The health ministry’s regional chief environmental health practitioner, Padelia Ngenokesho, provided an overview of the malaria situation in the Oshikoto Region, saying a total of 11 000 malaria cases were reported in the entire country last year, with Oshikoto contributing 300 cases. Meanwhile, a total of 186 cases have been reported in the region this year.

Ngenokesho pointed out that some cases originated from people within the region, while others were imported from friends and relatives in Angola.

She said 78 malaria cases were traced back to Angola and emphasised the need for the g
overnment to exercise caution regarding the migration of people into the country and ensure they receive treatment to prevent the spread of malaria.

Ngenokesho commended the ministry for its efforts in treating malaria patients and consistently investigating malaria cases. She also encouraged the use of mosquito nets, saying they are strategically designed to prevent the spread of malaria.

‘We have learned that certain individuals use mosquito nets to catch fish and build their poultry shelters, and we discourage them from doing this,’ said Ngenokesho.

She called upon local authorities in the region to take ownership and assist the ministry in preventing malaria and spreading awareness.

‘Malaria does not affect the ministry alone, but whole communities. Local authorities should provide services to curb malaria while the ministry is catering to villages and other rural areas,’ Ngenokesho said.

She said the ministry is working to eliminate cases by adopting various policies and strategies to accelerate the
fight against malaria.

‘We want to be the first region to eliminate malaria by using different divisions in our ministry, as well as [for] pastors to create awareness and eventually eliminate these cases,’ said Ngenokesho.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) on Thursday here, donated N.dollars 200 000 to the Brave Gladiators to support the team towards their hygiene and sanitary needs while on international duties.

The sponsorship was announced by NDTC CEO Brent Eiseb, who said that the company is committed to empowering and uplifting Namibian ambassadors who put the country on the global map.

‘Women’s football in Namibia is one of the least financially supported sport codes, impacting its growth and the performance of the national team. Our investment in women’s football is not just about scoring goals but also about inspiring the next generation of female athletes in Namibia,’ he said.

Eiseb added that the Brave Gladiators’ victories resonate far beyond the pitch and echo in the hearts of every Namibian, instilling a sense of national pride that transcends borders.

‘By sponsoring the Namibia Women’s National Football Team, we are investing in the dreams and aspirations of these athletes who are not merely players
but also trailblazers, and breaking barriers,’ Eiseb said.

The sponsorship of N.dollars 200 000 was used to support the team’s hygiene and sanitary products, with N.dollars 20 000 allocated to this purpose. The remaining amount was shared among the 34-member squad that represented the country in the Olympic qualifiers and African Nations Cup qualifiers from August to October 2023.

Eiseb stated that the women players’ achievements in the field of play should be celebrated like the diamonds they are, also ensuring that their dreams and aspirations are not only valid but also realised.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Katima Mulilo Urban Constituency Councillor Kennedy Simasiku says there are issues that require the Katima Mulilo Town Council (KMTC) to urgently engage the public.

This should be done through information sharing sessions where clarity must be provided and where necessary, decisions made for the good of both parties, said Simasiku in an interview with Nampa, following the public demonstration recently in which residents of Katima called for the removal of Redforce and brought up other issues related to the town council.

Simasiku told Nampa that an invitation was extended to KMTC to join the Constituency to engage and resolve some of the pressing issues the communities are faced with. One such issue is Redforce, a debt collection agency appointed by the council, and the issue of interest charged on outstanding municipal accounts.

‘We fully support the idea that, where qualifying pensioners deserve a rebate or specific treatment due to them being senior citizens, they ought not to be forced to pay amounts t
hey cannot afford in comparison to their living wages. The issue of invoicing dates must be corrected and conveniently sequenced to both parties but importantly, properly communicated to the community for clarity. And finally, under normal circumstances, the burden of recovery should not be entirely dumped on the end user considering the current economic circumstances our country is faced with, and one would hope that such a condition in the contract can be renegotiated or be noted for correction in future. These suggestions were made to KMTC by our office too,’ Simasiku stated.

At the public demonstration two weeks ago, demonstrators called for the closure of Redforce and removal of the KMTC councillors and its chief executive officer. The demonstrators charged that the current town council leadership has failed the masses in delivering proper services. They recited water shortages, poor services and corruption as some of the factors that are forcing them to demand for the removal of the team.

The petition
was handed over to Katima Mulilo Town Council Mayor Lister Shamalaza, who promised speedy feedback. Full feedback is expected to be delivered on Sunday when the whole council will be present, including CEO Raphael Liswaniso.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Community members of the Ekonghola village in the Ombulu district of Okongo held a peaceful demonstration on Thursday, denouncing the appointment of a hand-picked headman for their traditional authority.

The group marched from Shell Ondangwa to the Ondonga Traditional Authority office at Oluno, where they handed over a petition.

The Ondonga Traditional Authority has appointed Sylvanus Elago as the new headman of Ekonghola village following the death of Antonius Nghilongwa in 2021. Elago was expected to be inaugurated on 21 November 2023.

Handing over the petition, spokesperson Aune Gabriel said they do not want Elago, who is currently appointed to head the village to be their leader, to be inaugurated. Community members claim he is not from Ekonghola and does not know the needs of the community.

Gabriel indicated that the late Nghilongwa nominated three people who could replace him in the event of his death, and these were not considered.

According to Gabriel, the Traditional Authorities Act of 2000 sti
pulates that a headman/woman should be elected by residents and should be a permanent resident in the village, which means Elago is not suitable to lead them.

‘The appointed candidate does not have a house in Ekonghola apart from a cattle post that he has in the village and is not a permanent resident, meaning he does not qualify for the headman post,’ she said.

Gabriel stated that Namibia is governed by laws which give people the right to vote for whom they want to be led by.

She then called on the Ondonga Traditional Authority councillors to discuss the matter without taking sides, for the interest of the people.

The group gave the traditional authority until 22 November to respond to their request.

Accepting the petition, Lot Kasamane, second in charge in the Ondangwa District for the Ondonga Traditional Authority, assured the demonstrators that their petition would be forwarded to the right authority to deal with the matter.

However, Kasamane told the demonstrators that it might take time for the gr
oup to get a response.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency