Category: Health

The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) on Saturday announced that it has cleared two out of four blocks of the nurses’ homes at the central hospital in preparation for building renovations.

This follows the ministry’s previous statement that it would carry out general repairs on the nurses’ home and doctor’s quarters, as these buildings have been reported to be in a dilapidated state in recent years.

During an interview with Nampa at the National Clean-Up Campaign (NCUC) in the Khomas region on Saturday, MoHSS Deputy Director of General Services at Windhoek Central Hospital, Mercia Tjavara, emphasised that aside from health considerations, the campaign is aimed at promoting Namibia to become the cleanest country in Africa and worldwide.

‘I am honoured and grateful to participate in the NCUC, as it is everyone’s social responsibility to keep the nation clean. We come from an African background that teaches us to clean up after our mess, thus discouraging littering,’ Tjavara said.

At the same event, Nasilimwe Lubinda, a general cleaner at MoHSS, expressed her satisfaction with her role in setting an example for the nation regarding cleanliness, stating that Namibia belongs to all of us.

Lubinda pointed out that some of the cleanliness issues at the health facility are exacerbated by the nurses’ home residents, who allegedly litter outside their windows and balconies, as they are not monitored, leading to their ignorance about the environment. Furthermore, it is alleged that residents of the two remaining nurses’ blocks did not participate in maintaining the cleanliness of their surroundings, even after being informed about the NCUC by the Ministry.

Womba Nashiwaya, a member of the Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, expressed her regret that not all Namibians participate in cleaning campaigns like these and emphasised that, as a Christian, it is her responsibility to keep God’s creation as clean as possible.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Services will run a cervical screening campaign set for 25 to 29 September 2023, at Outjo in the Kunene Region.

According to CAN Chief Executive Officer, Rolf Hansen on Friday, the collaborative project aims to make cervical cancer screening services available to all women in the district, boosting early diagnosis and treatment.

The campaign encompasses both Visual Inspection by Acetic Acid (VIA) and Pap smear tests (cytology) and seeks to bridge the accessibility gap by making screening services readily available to every woman in the district.

Hansen said that acknowledging budgetary constraints faced by themMinisterial campaign, CAN extends its unwavering support to ensure that vital consumables necessary for the screenings are secured.

“CAN fully supports health ministry teams that take the initiative to proactively serve their communities and therefore wholeheartedly supports this request for support. This campaign aligns with CAN’s own National Cancer Outreach Programme and reflects our own ongoing commitment to fighting cancer and its devastating effects in Namibia,” he said.

Hansen noted that cervical cancer is a substantial global health concern, ranking as the fourth most common cancer among women and leading to significant fatalities annually.

“CAN underscores the importance of educating the community about cervical cancer, HPV, and the HPV vaccine. Routine cervical screenings, such as Pap tests and Visual Inspection by Acetic Acid (VIA), are pivotal in detecting and addressing abnormal cell changes early, forestalling their progression to cancer,’’ he said.

By endorsing campaigns like the cervical cancer screening initiative in the Outjo district, CAN strives to heighten awareness, amplify screening accessibility, and ultimately mitigate cervical cancer prevalence in Namibia.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The well-furnished Ndobian District Hospital situated in Makombe in the Nkam Division of the Littoral region has been abandoned in the merciless care of wild vegetation which has covered the health facility and made it inaccessible.

No medical personnel could be found at the hospital constructed to provide medical services desperately needed by the population.

” The sick come here for treatment but can’t find any medic. It’s absolutely embarrassing”. A local around the hospital said.

Even the medical doctor who was recently decorated with a medal of honour and recognized for hard work, is nowhere to be found.

” There is a woman who was assigned here as a medical doctor, she has not been traceable for about six months now. We don’t know why she left, whereas last May 20, she received a medal of honor and recognition. I wonder the importance of such of medal of encouragement.” Another inhabitant hinted.

In disappointment, the population of Ndobian implored the Minister of Public Health to take note of this precarious situation confronting them.

” We plead with competent government authorities to help us quickly enough because we are really in need of a hospital. They should recruit new nurses here as if necessary replace the Doctor whose whereabouts are unknown. ” Added a native.

Ndobian village does not also have accessible roads to the abandoned hospital. The population who said are prevented from moving around due to the deplorable state of the seasonal roads also implore local authorities to render them accessible.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The Government of Japan, through the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) on Monday donated cold chain supplies valued at N.dollars 29 million to the Ministry of Health and Social Services.

The donation comprised of nine walk-in cold rooms, one incinerator, three ultra-cold chain equipment, 350 vaccine carriers, 295 fridge tags, 11 refrigerators, 10 deep freezers, 24 compressors, 30 voltage stabilisers, 37 laptops, one printer, 36 spare parts and toolkits and 61 tablets.

Speaking at the hand-over ceremony in the capital, UNICEF Country Representative Jecob Nyamadzawo, noted that Namibia is on track to equipping all health facilities with the required cold-chain equipment and supplies, with the support of stakeholders. This, he stressed, is a critical milestone towards strengthening the health system in achieving the universal health coverage agenda.

Japan’s Ambassador to Namibia, Nishimaki Hisao, at the same event said that well trained employees; dependable storage and temperature monitoring equipment; as well as medication inventory management are the three essential aspects of a successful cold chain.

Receiving the donation of behalf of the health ministry, Executive Director Ben Nangombe outlined its significance.

“This equipment will strengthen our ability to safely store and distribute vaccines, medicines, and essential medical supplies. This well-established cold chain infrastructure, coupled with the other resources acquired through this support, will enable us to reach every corner of our nation, ensuring that no one is left behind in our quest for a healthier society,” he said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Kuwait Surgical Team launched a free medical services today at St. Paul’s Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The team, which includes 20 doctors, 11 nurses and 3 technicians, will conduct surgical treatment to about 200 patients in the coming five days.

Kuwait Surgical Hope Team Chief Dr. Hisham Burezq said the idea is to help our brothers and sisters in Addis Ababa in providing medical services for patients arranged by St. Paul’s Hospital.

Dr. Burezq told ENA, we are providing the services to those who are not capable of paying medical service fees chosen by the hospital administration.

St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College Vice Provost Dr. Wuletaw Chane for his part said Kuwait Surgical Hope Team is providing various medical services, especially for those in need of surgical services in 8 surgical rooms arranged at the hospital.

He said some kinds of medical operations have been difficult to conduct at the hospital due to lack of materials, however, he added that the Kuwait Surgical Medical Team brought these materials so the surgical operation will be undertaken over the coming days.

The medical service provided by the Kuwait Medical Team would create opportunity for exchange of knowledge and experience as well as bilateral cooperation in the sector, he added.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Ethiopia and Pakistan are mulling further cooperation in the health sector, especially in the areas of academic and research collaboration, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A six-member Ethiopian delegation together with Jemal Beker Abdula, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia in Islamabad met with senior officials of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination of Pakistan as well as related parastatals and public sector universities.

Ethiopia’s delegation, led by Abdulahi Hussein, Vice President of Jigjiga University paid a visit to the Ministry of National Health Services of Pakistan and discussed with Director General of Health on ways of cooperation in the sector.

On the occasion, Ambassador Jemal Beker stressed on the need for establishing institutional linkages in healthcare between the two countries.

The ambassador along with the delegation briefed the Director General about healthcare and medical training systems in Ethiopia.

Both sides agreed to work out memoranda of understanding to strengthen the cooperation of the two countries in the health sector.

The delegation also visited the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and had a comprehensive discussion on cooperation in the medical sector.

It also paid a visit to College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, and Al-Maroof Hospital Islamabad.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency