Prison authorities at the Windhoek Correctional Facility have rejected recommendations from two doctors who said a severely disabled inmate needed to be released from prison for medical care.

Despite the dedication of midwives and progress made over the years, maternal and neonatal mortality remain a serious challenge in the country.

This was revealed at the celebration of the International Day of the Midwife, which took place in Windhoek.

The Minister of Health and Social Services says the Zambezi Region has faced daunting challenges in terms of health facilities, especially referrals of patients more than 500 kilometres away for specialised medical care.

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed her admiration for the government representatives working tirelessly to support those displaced by the floods.