In a deeply distressing incident that has reverberated throughout the Eenkundi-Okando village, a 37-year-old man who was struggling with mental health challenges died when he was engulfed by flames while being restrained to a bed.

This tragic event has drawn attention to the contentious practise of shackling individuals afflicted with mental disorders, particularly when their condition worsens.

Nepembe was born with a condition that tends to worsen when he consumes alcohol.

The management of Oshakati Intermediate Hospital in the Oshana Region is advocating for the establishment of a mental health hospital in Oshana to address the high volume of mental health patients who are currently being directed to Oshakati Intermediate Hospital on a daily basis.

They made the call during the visit of members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Social Development, and Family Affairs to the hospital.

Health authorities are investigating the cause of flu-like symptoms among learners at Mweshipandeka Secondary School in the Oshana Region.

Johanna Haimene, the Health Director in the region, told Nampa on Sunday that all the affected learners had infections of the upper respiratory tract.

However, all 69 affected learners tested showed negative results for COVID-19.

She said COVID tests were done and no positive result was detected.

The Namibian government has completed major transport infrastructure in the Oshana Region during the 2022–23 Financial Year to create an enabling environment for economic growth and improve the country's global competitiveness.

In his State of the Region Address, Oshana Governor Elias Irimari says the Works and Transport Ministry has made commendable progress in expanding the road network in the region.

The Oshana Region has since January this year recorded 260 cases of Gender-Based Violence.

Chief Inspector Kaarina Shiimi says 61 rapes were reported in the region, of which 25 victims are children.

During the same period last year, the region recorded 258 GBV and 41 rape cases of which 20 were children.

The police in Oshana Region have arrested a 25-year-old male suspect for allegedly importing contraband into Namibia.

The police, who were conducting a patrol on Tuesday on the Ondangwa-Oshikango road, spotted a white bakkie, which appeared suspicious due to its heavy loading.

The police then followed the male suspect to the home undercover and intercepted him while he was offloading the goods.

He was found in possession of 17 boxes of Angolan whisky valued at over N$24,000 and 70 bales of clothing and slippers that were all confiscated. 

The David Namwandi Trust Fund, established in 2010, donated uniforms to children from five schools in Oluno Circuit in the Oshana Region.

Needy children from each school were selected when it was realized that they were in dire need of uniforms.

Emerging poultry farmers in the Oshana Region are advised to exercise patience and network with each other to generate meaningful income from their projects.

To address some of the challenges local farmers face, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform office at Ongwediva, held a one-day engagement with poultry farmers to explore ways and share information on how they can best benefit from the poultry value chain.

The farmers need to stand together and collaborate if they are to draw significant benefits from poultry farming.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, visited an envisaged government project to construct earth dams in the Oshana Region.

The Deputy Prime Minister's visit was prompted by the government's decision to invest in economic sectors that can drive economic benefit and job creation among the Namibian population.

She indicated that the government pays special attention to the agricultural sector, both in terms of livestock and crop production, hence the decision to construct earth dams in flood-prone areas such as the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin flood plains.

President Hage Geingob has conferred a state funeral on the former Health Director of the Oshana Region, Naftali Hamata. 

The Secretary to the Cabinet, Dr. George Simataa, confirmed this to nbc News.

Dr. Hamata died last week, aged 78.

The renowned medical doctor served in various portfolios after independence, including those of special advisor, medical superintendent, and regional health director, to name but a few.

During the liberation struggle, he treated wounded PLAN fighters and provided health care at Onamishu village in the Ohangwena region.