The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) is consulting communities on two draft Bills: the Human Tissue Bill and the Blood Services Bill.
During a consultation meeting held at the Kavango West Regional Council in Nkurenkuru, Ncuncuni Constituency Councillor Michael Naiteta urged stakeholders to make meaningful contributions to ensure the proposed laws address the needs and interests of all citizens.
The two Bills are expected to establish a national framework for regulating human tissue and blood services for the benefit of all Namibians.
"As a community, our voices matter because these decisions made will definitely affect us one way or another."
Kavango West Regional Council Chairperson Fillipus Tenga stressed the importance of regularly updating national laws to ensure they remain relevant to current needs and realities.
"To truly serve the people, our laws must evolve to reflect our current realities, align with global standards, close legal gaps, and enhance accessibility and clarity."
Before the discussions, the Chief Medical Laboratory Technologist in the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Petrus Endjala, took participants through the key provisions of the proposed Bills.
"The purpose, therefore, is to provide firm, the donation or the making available of human bodies and tissue for the purpose of medical or dental training, research, or therapy."
The presentation prompted questions and concerns from participants, particularly around cultural beliefs, access to services, and the handling and protection of human tissue.
"How will this bill address the conflict between our customs and our beliefs, as well as your requirements in terms of the bill?"
"So I'm hoping all the regions, both Kavango West and East, will have that option for us to access suchservices."
"Did the Bill say something in regard to the safeguarding of human organs and all those kinds of things during the postpartum examinations?"
"I think the bill should at least address the research ethics and approvals of specimens, storage, long-term storage, and research and disposal. How is the Bill going to address these types of things?"
The contributions gathered during the consultation will help shape the proposed bills, ensuring that the final legal framework takes into account the concerns, needs and rights of all Namibians.