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.

Popular Democratic Movement's Member of Parliament, Reggie Diergaardt, brought attention to critical patients allegedly being turned away from St. Mary's Hospital in Rehoboth's Casualty Unit, raising concerns about fatalities among those awaiting treatment. 

Health and Social Services Minister Dr. Kalumbi Shangula acknowledged challenges shared by many health facilities nationwide, attributing part of the issue to cases termed "cold cases." 

Pharmaceutical company Cospharm donated disposable medical gloves worth N$2.6 million to the Ministry of Health and Social Services.

Handing over the donation, Cospharm's General Manager, Elina Veijo, said they are playing their part in improving and contributing to the country's health system.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) will continue to implement different methods to improve the health sector across the country.

The Executive Director of the Ministry, Ben Nangombe, gave a detailed report on the ministry's activities at various health facilities at a media conference in Windhoek.

The activities include renovations at various hospitals and clinics and the procurement of pharmaceuticals, clinical supplies, and medical equipment.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services is working diligently to address a water supply issue at Sibbinda Health Centre in Katima Mulilo.

The Executive Director in the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ben Nangombe, said this while responding to concerns raised by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Social Development, and Family Affairs.

The committee is in the Zambezi Region to assess the conditions and operations at public health facilities.

The Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) says there has been an upward trend in Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Namibia.

Over the past five years, Dr. Kalumbi Shangula says the country has on average recorded more than 96,000 cases of different types of STIs at health facilities annually.

It's against this background that the ministry launched the National STI Treatment Guideline to make provision for the latest and most effective treatment regimen for STIs.

The Treatment Guideline was last reviewed in 2008.

The Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, has called on young people to make use of technology and advance business opportunities around it.

Theofelus made this call at the opening of the Omaheke Youth Camp and Exhibition 2023 at Gobabis.

"I urge all of you here today as young people to embrace technology and use it as a creation of a better future for ourselves and our communities. Take advantage of the resources available to you and work to develop your skills in areas such as coding, digital marketing, and e-commerce."

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.