Category: Medical

The Veterinary Services Directorate in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform has implemented animal health control measures to minimise the transmission of the Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus.

This follows the detection of the virus in a human at Gobabis in the Omaheke Region on 23 May 2023, Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Albertina Shilongo said in a public notice issued on Saturday.

Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever is a severe haemorrhagic viral disease of people acquired from infected ticks through tick bites, contact with infected wild or domestic animal blood or tissue, and physical contact with the body fluids of an infected person.

Shilongo said infected animals do not manifest clinical disease, but experience mild fever.

“However, in infected people, the onset of symptoms is sudden, with fever, dizziness, neck pain, stiffness, backache, headache, sore eyes, and sensitivity to light,” she said.

Shilongo said there may be nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and sore throat early on, followed by sharp mood swings and confusion.

Anyone showing these clinical signs should report to the nearest health facility.

The directorate has thus implemented measures nationwide to minimise the transmission of the infection from ticks and animals to humans in line with the Animal Health Act 1 of 2011.

The measures include the enforcement of tick control activities at all animal gathering events in accordance with the Animal Gathering Events Protocol.

The directorate will conduct regular inspections and, where necessary, supervise tick control activities at identified high-risk animal establishments and auction facilities.

Animal handlers are urged to ensure that animals are free from ticks and to wear protective clothing when conducting any slaughtering procedures. Animal producers are also urged to apply approved Acaricides to control tick infestation.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission (ENDC) stated that it will finish the designing of agenda and selection of participants for the national dialogue in the coming weeks.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, National Dialogue Commission Chairperson Professor Mesfin Araya said the commission has been in the process of selection of participants and designing agenda by gathering ideas from the grass roots across the country.

Selected participants from over 1,300 woredas will select their representatives at zonal level and agendas for the national dialogue will be collected at the capital city of the respective regional states, he added.

Collecting agendas, which is the vital task of the commission, will also be finalized before the conclusion of this Ethiopian budget year and submitted to the National Dialogue Commission, it was learned.

According to the chairperson, the inclusive national dialogue, which is the first of its kind to the country, starts at the grass roots and moves upwards.

The professor finally noted that “we use this chance (the national dialogue) properly and carefully.”

He believes that the national dialogue will also play a role in enhancing the culture of democracy and inclusiveness.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The 76th World Health Assembly is taking place in Switzerland between May 21-30, with delegations from WHO member states including Cameroon, meeting in Geneva to brainstorm on major health concerns the world is currently faced with.

Participants will deliberate on ways to “create a future where every person has access to the health services they need” World Health Organization (WHO) Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, adding that “it means strengthening the global architecture for health emergency preparedness, response and resilience, and supporting countries on the road to universal health coverage.”

Minister Manaouda Malachie, representing Cameroonian at the event, also remarked that “universal health coverage, so dear to the Head of State, H.E. Paul Biya, is one of the key topics.”

The activities which started on Sunday under the theme: “WHO at 75: Saving lives, driving health for all”, will feature discussions on current and future priorities for public health issues of global importance.

It will also focus on strategies and global action on areas such as women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health rehabilitation, traditional medicine, infection prevention and control, health of refugees and migrants, mental health, nutrition and disabilities.

This year’s edition will equally mark the 75th anniversary of the World Health Organization.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The Capricorn Foundation recently contributed N.dollars 350 000 to Women at Work’s second intake graduation event, which saw eight students graduating after completing an eight-week hospitality course.

In a media statement issued on Friday, Capricorn Foundation Coordinator Veripura Muukua stated that the mission of Women at Work is to be the catalyst for change in the lives of unemployed Namibian women by providing high-quality basic skills training and facilitating suitable, stable employment through its employment bureau.

“The Capricorn Foundation is excited to make a difference in the lives of these ladies by helping them with the opportunity to improve their skills and a chance in the job market. This is also contributing to reducing the Namibian unemployment rate and promoting economic advancement,” she said.

She explained that the foundation contributes to the hospitality course, which is available to young people who have not completed their education and consequently find it difficult to find employment.

The course consists of four components: life skills, cleaning skills, laundry skills, and cooking skills. Students spend six weeks at the training centre doing practicals and theory, followed by two weeks in an internship.

Muukua said students must achieve a 60 per cent pass rate in the examinations.

According to Women at Work General Manager, Pat Sivertsen, eight of the nine students from the first intake this year are already employed.

“This just goes to highlight the impact that Women at Work has on communities and its role in combating poverty and unemployment in Namibia,” he said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) yesterday launched the self-service smart lockers known as the Pele Box Smart Lockers, designed to provide access to pre-packed chronic medication, at the Katutura State Hospital.

In his keynote address at the launch, health and social services minister, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, said there are currently 19 Pele Boxes installed countrywide and more will be installed in the future.

He also explained that the Pele Boxes will be operational every day for 24 hours, making it convenient for patients.

According to the minister, patients who are clinically stable and on chronic medication will be eligible to use this dispensary machine.

These patients include those using ARV medication, anti-epileptic medication, anti-hypertensive medication, and other cardiovascular disease treatments.

Source: Namibia Press Agency

The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) on Tuesday launched the self-service smart lockers known as the Pele Box Smart Lockers, designed to provide access to pre-packed chronic medication, at the Katutura State Hospital.

In his keynote address at the launch, health and social services minister, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, said there are currently 19 Pele Boxes installed countrywide and more will be installed in the future. He also explained that the Pele Boxes will be operational every day for 24 hours, making it convenient for patients.

According to the minister, patients who are clinically stable and on chronic medication will be eligible to use this dispensary machine. These patients include those using ARV medication, anti-epileptic medication, anti-hypertensive medication, and other cardiovascular disease treatments.

In her remarks, Medical Superintendent at the Katutura State Hospital, Nelago Amagula, said the introduction of the Pele Box Smart Lockers will eliminate the long queues at the pharmacies and give staff members more time to spend with the patients instead of dispensing medication.

“Patients will now receive their medication in under two minutes and will avoid having to stand in long queues at the pharmacies,” said Amagula.

The introduction of the Pele Box Smart Lockers Machines is part of the chronic medication delivery system at public health facilities, which is aimed at providing patients with a more convenient and efficient way of collecting their repeat chronic-care medication.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Namibia provided the MoHSS with technical and financial support for the introduction of the Pele Box Smart Lockers.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The European Union (EU) and Ministry of Health have today signed an agreement that aims at improving specialized health education in Ethiopia with a budget of 5 million Euros.

Ethiopian Minister of Health, Lia Tadesse and the European Union Ambassador to Ethiopia, Roland Kobia signed the agreement for the project.

According to the agreement, the European Union along with Spanish and Italian cooperation will work in nine university hospitals in Ethiopia to improve the professional skills of specialized medical students and teachers.

At the launching of the project, Minister of Health, Lia Tadesse said in a bid to further strengthen the health sector, attention has been given to the development of human resources in the field.

Starting from health extension workers, training and other supports are being offered to strengthen the human resources at all levels.

One of the areas of focus for the country is to expand specialized medical training, she said, adding specialized health education is being offered in 22 educational institutions.

The project announced by the European Union today aims to increase the capacity of specialist doctors in nine university hospitals in Ethiopia, she pointed out.

According to the agreement, with a budget of 5 million Euros’, the European Union, with the Spanish and Italian cooperation, will work to expand health training and strengthen the quality of key surgical services.

The Minister further stated that by bringing experts and technologies from these countries, experience sharing will be undertaken.

“The objective is to expand and enhance quality training with a view to scale up capacities of students and teachers in the sector in key health issues such as specialties in surgeries, orthopedic treatment, and obstetrics and gynecology as well as emergency among others by exchange of experts and new technologies from these countries,” she elaborated.

European Union Ambassador to Ethiopia, Roland Kobia, expressed that he will do his part to make the project successful.

He also pointed out that capacity building activities, including training for medical doctors, will be undertaken as part of the project.

Noting that the needs are huge and the war also take toll not only on physical infrastructure including hospitals and health centers, he said that “it is not only this project that we have but we have many other projects. So if we put it all the projects it is off course much more than what we are doing here today. So working with you is a real privilege. We know that you deploy all efforts to make this project a success for Ethiopia but mainly for the population. So we can have a better access to help.’

Source: Ethiopian News Agency