Namibia News

The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council’s (NMRC) Quality Surveillance Laboratory (QSL) conducted a pivotal workshop in Swakopmund from 2 to 6 December 2024, with financial support from the World Health Organization (WHO). The workshop focused on risk management, opportunity identification, and root cause analysis, aimed at strengthening the laboratory’s quality management system and enhancing operational efficiency, compliance, and continuous improvement.

The escalating mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other countries was declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) by the WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on 14 August 2024.

Over 120 countries have confirmed more than 106 000 cases of mpox since the onset of the global outbreak in 2022. In 2024, there has been an upsurge of mpox in the DRC and neighbouring countries, with about 68,999 suspected cases and approximately 1,255 deaths reported across 21 countries in the WHO African Region as of 12 December 2024.

On 17 November 2024, Namibia joined the rest of Africa in commemorating Africa Road Safety Day and the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region. This significant event, observed on the third Sunday of November every year, highlights the urgent need for better road safety measures, the preservation of human life and support for those affected by road traffic crashes. It is a time to remember victims, advocate for improved post-crash responses, and take action to save lives across the continent.

The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council (NMRC) with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), conducted an intensive training workshop on dossier assessment in Windhoek from 2 to 13 December 2024. The program equipping participants with comprehensive skills in dossier evaluation for pharmaceutical products.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) with support from World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a national training for trainers on the electronic surveillance (eSURV) Companion App in Swakopmund from 14 – 16 October 2024.

Renowned for its excellent road infrastructure, Namibia has been a leader on the African continent in road safety, aligning its vision with the global decade of action on road safety. However, the high death toll on the Namibia roads is a stark reminder that good roads are not sufficient to ensuring road safety. A comprehensive strategy is essential, including ongoing enhancements in road and vehicle design, strengthening of laws and their enforcement, and ensuring timely emergency care for the injured.

Windhoek – “The injury pattern did not match the father's account, so I involved a social worker,” recounts Julia Kaiyamo, a doctor at Katutura Health Centre in Windhoek, Namibia, of a recent case she treated. Kaiyamo’s assessment was informed by training she received on addressing child maltreatment.

Windhoek –Vakahoka Matundu of Otjerunda village, faced a crisis when her two-year old daughter was diagnosed with acute malnutrition. A community health worker identified the issue and quickly referred her to Opuwo District Hospital for treatment. Reflecting on the journey, Vakahoka shares, “The community health worker has been very helpful, visiting us regularly to check up on my child's progress. My child is doing well now, and we are up to date with her immunizations.”

Poliovirus surveillance is one of the key pillars of the global poliovirus eradication effort. The primary system to detect poliovirus transmission is surveillance for polio cases among individuals with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), supplemented by environmental surveillance (ES).

In October 2008, Namibia was certified polio free and continued to maintain its polio free status since then. However, the country remains at high risk of importations of vaccine derived polio viruses (VDPVs) and other vaccine preventable diseases due to sub-optimal immunization coverage.

During the week of 16 to 19 September 2024, an audit team from the World Health Organization (WHO) Laborator