There is a need for Africa to locally manufacture vaccines and fill immunisation gaps.

Currently, Africa imports 99 percent of its vaccines.

Moreover, more than 90 percent of medicines and medical devices are imported.

This situation has proven to be a challenge in Namibia and other nations during pandemics such as COVID-19, monkeypox, and Ebola.

This is concerning and raises questions about the preparedness for future pandemics, emphasising the importance of partnerships and collaboration.

The Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) handed over Ecosystem-based Adaptation grants to 34 community organisations. The organisations received over N$88.3 million in cash and certificates.

The natural-based organisations aim to address climate change through ecosystem-based adaptation.

Located in landscapes, these projects cover more than 200,000 square kilometres of land and are home to 216,000 people, representing about 7.5% of the population.

Deputy Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication & Child Welfare, Bernadette Jagger has called on the public to help beneficiaries of social grants to use their money to sustain themselves.

Responding to concerns by parliamentarians in the National Assembly on the misuse of these grants by the beneficiaries, Jagger said her Ministry has no control measures in place.