Category: Health

Oshikoto Governor, Penda Ya Ndakolo, has called on private tertiary institutions to register their business with the relevant authorities, as many students have wasted their money at unregistered institutions and are now without any recognised qualifications.

Ya Ndakolo made the remarks during the inauguration of the Higher Ground Training College (HGTC) at Omuthiya on Friday.

The college offers courses in electrical engineering, certificates in Foundations for Health Sciences, Enrolled Nursing as well as Bachelor in Nursing and Midwifery Science Honours Degree.

He said he is happy that HGTC is fully registered and approved by the Health Professions Council of Namibia (HPCN).

“As the leadership, we will take action if we learn of any institution in Oshikoto that is not registered by making sure that institution is closed down. We want the correct services to be brought closer to the people of the region,” Ya Ndakolo said.

He said the increase in the number of qualified health care professionals will translate into improved quality of health care, as well as more access to health care services, especially in the rural areas.

“I implore the college management to also register for other health programmes so that students have more courses to choose from,” said Ya Ndakolo, while urging the institution to recruit capable people with the right qualifications who will deliver quality services.

“We are more concerned about the quality of education you will offer than the quantity of graduates you will produce because quality health professionals are needed in this country to sustain and enhance the quality of health in our nation,” the governor said.

HGTC founder and director, Mthembo Amkelani, said the college was established as a nursing school in 2014 and it currently has one branch with 127 registered students.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The South West Regional Delegate of Public Health, Dr. Eko Eko Filbert has refuted rumors stating that nanuplets (nine babies) were born in the region some three months ago. This information is contained in a release signed by the delegate this August 21.

According to the delegate, no woman delivered of nine babies in the South West. “The Regional Delegate of Public Health for the South West, Dr Eko Eko Filbert wishes to inform the public that no such delivery is captured on any of the data collection platforms from any regular authorized health facility in the South West Region and calls on the prudence of all”. Part of the release reads.

The Delegate’s reaction is coming months after a video had been circulating on social media stating that a Nigerian woman based in Cameroon had delivered of nine babies. It is hoped that following this release, the air can be cleared on where exactly the nanuples were born.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) is monitoring the new COVID-19 variant, ‘Eris’ reportedly found in 50 countries, including neighbouring South Africa, as of 08 August 2023.

In an interview with Nampa on Thursday, MoHSS Executive Director Ben Nangombe explained the new variant is a subvariant of the Omicron lineage and has not been identified in Namibia as yet.

“Namibia is monitoring the situation closely… At this point we have not identified that subvariant in Namibia, but should we pick it up we will inform the nation accordingly. There is no need to panic, the ministry is observing the situation,” he said.

He explained that according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Eris variant does not necessarily result in severe complications.

Nangombe said the ministry’s response measures in terms of case finding, surveillance and other measures to respond to the variants are ready to respond appropriately.

He further encouraged individuals displaying symptoms that are consistent with COVID-19 to get tested at public health facilities countrywide.

“COVID-19 is still present and prevention remains the cure. Swabbing for COVID-19 is still happening and those presenting consistent COVID-19 symptoms should make use of the public health facilities,” he noted.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Ministry of Health has today officially launched the construction of a biobank and proficiency panels production center in Addis Ababa.

The center will be built with a cost of 885 million Birr obtained from the Government of Ethiopia and the World Bank on 3000 meters square at the premises of Ethiopian Public Health Institute in the capital.

The center is expected to be functional in two years, it was learned.

During the launching, Minister of Health Dr. Lia Tadesse said up on functionality, the center will improve the country’s laboratory services to a higher level.

She said the center will provide standardized quality assurance services of laboratories in the country to the public and private health institutions.

According to the minister, the health information to be delivered by the laboratory is crucially important to properly respond to health risks that might occur in the form of outbreaks by conducting disease surveillance.

Indicating that currently, quality samples have been obtained by purchasing from international companies with huge amount of foreign currency, Lia said that when the center commences operation, it is expected to avert this challenge and bring the nation’s laboratory services to highest level of standard.

Director General of Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Mesay Hailu for his part stated that the construction of the center will help the country properly and carefully administrate samples of pathogens and other related information.

According to him, the completion of this newly launched center and other ongoing construction of similar facilities will immensely improve the overall health system of the country.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN) on Thursday hosted a training session facilitated by Soul Carers Network of South Africa on end-of-life care at its specialised palliative care centre for cancer patients in Windhoek.

Over 55 participants, including doctors, nurses, social workers, and community patient caregivers, attended the training session.

Soul Carers Network of South Africa is a renowned organisation that focuses on providing spiritual and emotional care to individuals facing their end of life. They offer training and resources to healthcare professionals and support programmes for patients and their families.

CAN Chief Executive Officer, Rolf Hansen told Nampa on Friday that the topics covered during the session included effective communication with patients and their families, pain management understanding, and engaging with the interdisciplinary patients care team.

The training also emphasised the importance of honouring the voice of the patient, supporting pain management, and addressing ethical aspects of pre-grieving and the ‘death doula’ journey, he said.

“The Cancer Association of Namibia is grateful for the support and partnership of the Soul Carers Network of South Africa, as their expertise and resources will empower our patient care workers to provide enhanced care,” he said.

A training session was also held on Saturday morning at the CAN Erongo Centre in Swakopmund.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has said it remains committed to ensuring the uninterrupted provision of quality healthcare services at Sibbinda Health Centre after complaints of water supply issues at the centre.

This was said in a statement issued by the health ministry in response to the ongoing regional visits conducted by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Social Development and Family Affairs, including to the Sibbinda Health Centre.

The ministry informed the committee that the centre has access to two water sources – a community borehole and NamWater pipeline.

Last year, it was observed that water pressure in the pipeline is higher at night. A decision was taken to link the pipeline to a secondary tank to supply the health centre. The booster pump used to transfer water from the primary tank to the secondary tank is however broken, meaning this decision could not be implemented.

In the meantime, a hosepipe is being used to supply water to the clinic.

The ministry said it is “diligently working to address the water supply issue” and the faulty pipe will be repaired in due course.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency