- Emilia Ananias-Nantinda behind Ondangwa and Oniipa’s Lifesaving Pharmacies Mallex Shipanga Emilia Ananias-Nantinda, a pharmacist and entrepreneur, has carved a path from the small village of Okapya in the Omusati Region to owning two thriving pharmacies in Ondangwa and Oniipa. As a businesswoman, pharmacist, mother, and wife, she has become a beacon of hope and inspiration for her community and beyond. “My childhood was like any other child in the village those days. We played amagoes and uma, fetched water, collected firewood, pounded mahangu, and more. Despite the fact that I lost both parents at a very young age, I believe my guardians did their best to give me a normal childhood,” she continued. She has over ten years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, ranging from hospital pharmacy to…
Hertta-maria Amutenja Elective surgeries at Katutura Intermediate Hospital have been cancelled due to a shortage of both depolarising and nondepolarising muscle relaxants needed for general anaesthesia. In a letter dated 7 April, addressed to heads of surgical departments, the acting head of anaesthesia, Linea Manyalo-Nashima, informed colleagues that the hospital had run out of essential drugs such as suxamethonium, atracurium, and rocuronium. These drugs are critical for muscle relaxation during procedures involving tracheal intubation. “Effective 8 April, all elective cases requiring muscle paralysis would not be carried out until the issue has been resolved,” she said. According to the letter, only elective cases requiring neuraxial anaesthesia, such as spinal or epidural blocks, may continue to be booked, depending on their suitability. Efforts to get a response from the hospital were…
Niël Terblanché The healthcare sector has undergone a major shift with the established Health Professions Council of Namibia (HPCNA) which consolidated five different councils into one entity. The transition follows on the heels of the enactment of the Health Professions Act of 2024. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, during the swearing-in of the new council members in Windhoek on Monday, described the development as a critical step towards strengthening oversight in the medical field. “The new Health Professions Council of Namibia was established in terms of the provisions of the Health Professions Act, 2024. This new piece of legislation was passed by Parliament last year and was assented to by His Excellency, Dr Nangolo Mbumba, signing it into law on 13 December 2024,” he said.…
Niël Terblanché The foundation has been laid for a new state-of-the-art health centre in Karibib, a project made possible through a partnership between the Ministry of Health and Social Services and QKR Navachab Gold Mine. The minister of health and social services, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, said at the official launch of the project that once completed, the facility will improve healthcare access for the town’s growing population and surrounding areas. “The existing health facility, inaugurated in 2004, has served the needs of Karibib residents well. However, demographic changes and increased demand for healthcare services make it necessary to expand our capacity,” he said. Shangula explained that the existing health facility, inaugurated in 2004, has served the community well but is no longer sufficient due to demographic changes and increased demand…
Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Health and Social Services has requested forensic specialists of the Namibian Police to investigate and determine the cause of the fire the destroyed part of Mondesa Clinic in Swakopmund on Monday night Walters Kamaya, the health ministry’s spokesperson, said that the actual cause of the fire could not be conclusively determined. “Members of the Namibian Police attached to the forensic institute in Windhoek have already started their investigation,” he said. In the meantime, the Ministry of Health and Social Services advised residents to seek alternative healthcare services while efforts are underway to restore operations at the clinic in Mondesa. Earlier this week, Ben Nangombe, the executive director of the ministry, said in a statement on Monday that general health services can be accessed at the…
Niël Terblanché The Mondesa Clinic in Swakopmund has been temporarily closed after a fire broke out in the early hours of Monday morning. According to Chief Inspector Ileni Shapumba, head of the Namibian Police’s Community Affairs Division in the Erongo region, the cause of the fire remains unknown and an investigation has been launched to determine what started the blaze. Shapumba said that a security guard from Six Thousand Security Company, who was on duty at the clinic, reported hearing multiple explosions before a resident alerted her that the clinic was on fire. He added that it is suspected that the fire originated from the pharmacy section of the facility. “The security guard immediately informed her supervisor, who then alerted the Swakopmund Fire Brigade,” he said. He added that the…
Allexer Namundjembo A power and water crisis at Windhoek Central Hospital has impacted critical services, leaving patients and staff in dire conditions. The problem started when rainwater damaged electrical terminals that were connected to the distribution box in the basement. This caused power cuts to several floors in the west wing and disrupted the water supply to the east wing. The hospital’s ninth floor, which houses the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and other critical care wards, has been heavily affected. Sources at the hospital told the Windhoek Observer on Saturday that these services are now consolidated on the ninth floor, including the pharmacy in the basement and the PICU ward. “Patients had to be transferred to the surgical ICU, and all patients on the west wing are being nursed…
NIËL TERBLANCHÉ Calls to hold Telecom leadership accountable are mounting after the recent cyber attack on the company’s data infrastructure. Many citizens took to social media calling for the CEO to bear ultimate responsibility for ensuring the safety of customer data and the board for its fiduciary duty to ensure the organization is managing risks effectively. “The management and board must be held accountable for the way they dealt with this disaster, which by their own admission happened three weeks ago and they did not even bother notifying the affected customers,” said Namene Kalili a business development and management innovation consultant Information Technology (IT). Data science specialist Rauna Shipena added that the CEO must explain whether the breach was due to negligence or a systemic failure in the organization’s protocols.…
Erasmus Shalihaxwe Dr Kalumbi Shangula, the Minister of Health and Social Services has introduced the Health Professions Council of Namibia Bill, which seeks to reduce the number of health regulatory bodies from five to one umbrella body. Esther Muinjangue, the deputy minister of health and social services, argued in Parliament on Tuesday that the bill is long overdue and would help reduce the number of council members and save money on travel, meetings, and other expenses. “It means that there are five acts or laws currently administered by one secretariat. The bill makes provision for the establishment of a single Health Professions Council of Namibia, which will replace the existing five Health Professions Councils and serve as the umbrella body to regulate and control the health professions in Namibia,” she…
Martin Endjala The Health Professions Council of Namibia (HPCNA), has warned aspiring health professionals not to enrol in courses offered by the Divine Health Institute. The HPCNA stated that the institute's courses have not received approval. The HPCNA established the Divine Health Institute, which has been inviting candidates to enrol in several courses, including nursing, pharmacy, and emergency care. “The HPCNA hereby warns the public that none of the courses in nursing, pharmacy, or emergency care being offered by Divine Health Institute have been approved by the HPCNA,” read the public notice. According to the HPCNA, graduates from the institution will have access to patients for practical training. “No holder of a qualification in such fields from the same institution will be allowed to practice a healthcare profession in Namibia,”…
