The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) is keeping up to date with new technologies to diagnose and treat patients effectively.

One such is nuclear medicine, a specialised area of radiology that uses small amounts of radioactive tracers to assess bodily functions.

Nuclear medicine is used in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, including cancer. 

Medicine imaging procedures often detect abnormalities in the early progression of a disease to allow early treatment.

The practice is currently only performed in Windhoek, which deals with all referrals from the regions.

While speaking at the National Ministerial Health Conference in Windhoek, Medical Doctor Shitaleni Herman, who is a nuclear medicine specialist, said there is a need to increase the nuclear medicine footprint in Namibia.

"Since 2015 we have not had the nuclear medicine in Oshakati; it has been up and down and a nightmare. I personally gave up, but I am happy Layna did not give up; let the young ones take over."

Dr. Herman further recommended training of key personnel, procurement of facilities and equipment, and expanding nuclear and molecular medicine countrywide.