The word "dilapidated" is frequently used to describe healthcare facilities throughout the country.
However, the Executive Director of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ben Nangombe, believes this term is exaggerated.
Nangombe acknowledges that the ministry faces challenges but asserts that it has made substantial progress in upgrading infrastructure over the years.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has finalised some of its directives set out under its National Management Development Forum (NMDF).
One of the directives that is a challenge is the implementation of the performance management system.
The Executive Director of the Ministry, Ben Nangombe, has undertaken some interventions to ensure the full implementation of this directive.
The Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, has dismissed allegations that Namibia has signed the WHO Pandemic Treaty, which is yet to be adopted since negotiations are ongoing.
Dr. Shangula was responding to allegations by the president of the Republican Party that by signing the treaty, Namibia would lose its sovereignty and be subservient to the World Health Organisation's whims.
Dr. Shangula further explained that he did give a statement in the National Assembly and that the matter is not being discussed in secrecy.
The number of people diagnosed with diabetes has almost doubled, from over 6,000 last year to 10,802 this year.
However, these cases were only recorded at eight health facilities in the |Khomas Region, and the figures could be higher.
The figures were presented at the commemoration of World Diabetes Day in Windhoek.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has put up screening facilities at all health facilities across the country.
The US government has donated 16 vehicles to the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) to enable clinical mentors in all 14 of the country's 14 regions to make regular visits to clinics in remote areas.
The mentorship programme was introduced in 2015 as part of the acceleration plan to reach HIV epidemic control by 2030.
The US government has been supporting Namibia in its fight against HIV and TB, and it has pledged to strengthen response measures further.
The Executive Director of the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) says the health and well-being of livestock and animals are of paramount importance.
Ben Nangombe emphasised that the responsible use of veterinary medicines plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and productivity of the agricultural sector.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) is empowering social workers with coping skills to combat tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy diseases in Namibia.
The Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Utjiua Muinjangue, who officially opened the training, highlighted the stigma and discrimination associated with TB and leprosy.
Therefore, this initiative to involve social workers is instrumental in addressing these societal challenges.
Statistics provided by the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) indicate that 31% of teenagers between the ages of 13 and 15 are already smoking, while about 50% are exposed to secondhand smoking.
It is further estimated that 20% of men and five percent of women between the ages of 15 and 49 consume tobacco in Namibia.
What is also concerning is smoking and secondhand smoke exposure among children.
People who are exposed to secondhand smoke can suffer the same consequences as those who smoke.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) is hard at work to finalise drafting the Mental Health Bill to be tabled in Parliament.
Minister Dr. Kalumbi Shangula said this at the inauguration of the Mental Health Board for the Windhoek Central Hospital on Friday.
The Bill aims to prioritise the dignity, anatomy, human rights, and overall well-being of individuals with mental health conditions.
Dr. Shangula also stressed that mental health patients are usually stigmatised and treated inhumanely.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has upgraded the Keetmanshoop District Hospital to a referral hospital.
The Regional Health Directorate presented a progress report on capital projects for both the 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 financial years during the Regional Development Coordination Committee meeting.
