Namibia has received an award from the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in recognition of its remarkable progress towards reaching the UNAIDS 95–95–95 targets and progress towards ending the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2030.

The award was presented by the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, who oversees the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

The award was received by the Executive Director of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ben Nangombe.

The Executive Director of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ben Nangombe, has dismissed claims by PDM MP Hidipo Hamata that Engela District Hospital is in deplorable condition.

Hamata, in a media statement, listed a number of challenges at the hospital.

These include a generator that has allegedly not been working for months, doctors using cellphone flashlights during surgeries, non-operational laundry, and insufficient cabinets at the mortuary.

Nangombe says the content of the media statement is sensational, misleading, and not based on facts.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has appealed to all health districts to enhance and reactivate all COVID-19 testing sites and encourage communities to get tested.

The Health Ministry indicated that the current epidemiological data shows a low testing rate countrywide, while the positivity rate is steadily increasing.

This is what Executive Director Ben Nangombe says could point to an increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the communities, which can only be proven by increasing testing.

The Executive Director of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ben Nangombe, says the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Namibia has strengthened the country's healthcare system and level of service delivery.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services planted three trees to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The anniversary cements the strong bond between CDC Namibia and the ministry and has seen the strengthening of laboratory capacity, among others, said Nangombe.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has recorded 54 confirmed cases of the Human Influenza Virus, commonly known as swine flu, out of 190 suspected cases country-wide.

The cases were mostly reported in the Otjozondjupa Region, where 24 out of 37 suspected cases tested positive; the Khomas Region, where 24 out of 138 suspected cases were positive; and the Kavango East Region, where six out of 15 suspected cases were positive.

According to Health Executive Director, Ben Nangombe, some of the cases date back to July and were initially tested for COVID-19.