National News – Page 178

14 Jun

Children assessed for malnutrition

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By: Niël Terblanché Namibia is currently undertaking a substantial country-wide initiative to assess and address malnutrition among children, as part of the ongoing Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis (VAA) campaign. The campaign, spearheaded by the Office of the Prime Minister, is a critical measure in response to increasing food and nutrition insecurity, which employs the Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) method, a rapid and straightforward tool for identifying malnutrition in children. The MUAC method, as a tool, is a critical component in the global fight against child malnutrition. The World Health Organization (WHO) vouches for its effectiveness in identifying acute malnutrition in children…

14 Jun

Namibia receives humanitarian support against hunger

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Niël Terblanché The Government of the State of Qatar has donated 102 tons of food parcels to Namibia, aimed at alleviating the severe drought-induced food insecurity plaguing the country. The Office of the Prime Minister received the first consignment of 60 pallets, comprising of food packages of essential food items such as maize meal, rice, cooking oil, tinned fish, and tinned meat. Upon receiving the substantial humanitarian gesture Cabinet Secretary, George Simataa expressed heartfelt gratitude to Qatar for their swift response to President Nangolo Mbumba's appeal for international aid following the declaration of a State of Emergency on 22 May 2024.…

13 Jun

Namibia and Botswana strengthen border security

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Niël Terblanché Namibia and Botswana have jointly launched the Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Plan to reinforce border security and combat illegal activities. The first part of the launch took place in Kasane, Botswana, and the second part in Katima Mulilo, Namibia. The CIMIC is a collaborative effort under the theme "Working Together to Ensure Peaceful Coexistence, Security, and Human Development." Namibia's Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Frans Kapofi, and Botswana's Defence and Security Minister, Thomas Mmusi, were present at the launch, reflecting the deep historical ties and commitment to peace between the two nations. Kapofi highlighted the importance of the…

13 Jun

Welwitschia Health Training Centre transitions to university status

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Niël Terblanché In a historic development, Welwitschia Health Training Centre has been elevated to university status, now operating as Welwitschia University. Monika Pendukeni, Chairperson of the Council and Co-Founder of Welwitschia University said this momentous milestone marks a new chapter for the institution, which is set to expand its academic programmes, strengthen research initiatives, and enhance collaborations with various sectors. She stressed that the name change and status upgrade were approved by the Registrar of Private Higher Education Institutions under Section 28(2)(a)(iii) of the Higher Education Act, 2003 (Act No. 26 of 2003). Pendukeni added that the registrar’s decision was…

13 Jun

Ivermectin not for scabies treatment

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Stefanus Nashama Medical doctors say Ivermectin is not the prescribed medicine for treating scabies. Benhard Haufiku, a medical doctor and clinical practitioner, stated that a medication known as Permethrin treats scabies infections. Haufiku’s comments come after a recent report of a scabies outbreak in the overcrowded Ondandjaba police holding cells in the Omusati region, where 20 prisoners were reportedly receiving treatment. The facility has a capacity of 60 but currently houses more than 100 prisoners. “As far as I am aware, Ivermectin is not indicated or meant for treating scabies. It is intended to treat parasitic diseases. Ivermectin is an…

13 Jun

Drought relief aid extended to informal settlements

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Niël Terblanché The Otjozondjupa Regional Council has expanded its drought relief aid criteria to include households in informal settlements, a move that will bring much-needed assistance to thousands of vulnerable families. This change was announced by Marlene Mbakera, the chairperson of the Regional Council and the regional disaster risk management committee. The amendment will see an additional 5 000 households in informal settlements across the region's five major towns benefiting from the drought relief aid under the peri-urban programme. This is in addition to the 15 960 registered households already receiving support, significantly increasing the overall demand for aid. Mbakera…

13 Jun

At least 200 blood donations required per day

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Stefanus Nashama The Namibia Blood Transfusion Services (NamBTS) needs at least 200 blood donations per day to meet the needs of hospitals and medical centres across the country. NamBTS spokesperson, Titus Shivute, said this as Namibia joined the rest of the world on World Blood Donor Day on Thursday to celebrate 20 years of blood donation. “We need donors to donate at least four times a year in order to help ensure that there is always an adequate supply of blood available to patients across the country,” he said. World Blood Donor Day is an opportunity to thank blood donors…

13 Jun

2 000 offenders pardoned

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Niël Terblanché In an effort to address overcrowding in prisons and to encourage rehabilitation, President Nangolo Mbumba has issued a pardon and reprieve order leading to the release of more than 2 000 offenders from correctional facilities across Namibia. This order, announced during the commemoration of Namibia’s 34th independence anniversary, will see 313 inmates receiving full pardons and 1 108 temporarily released from prison. The Namibian Correctional Service disclosed that these releases represent a substantial proportion of the 4,330 offenders who were considered for the presidential pardon. The pardon will also see the release of 709 offenders serving sentences under…

13 Jun

Property Practitioners Bill introduced

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Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Minister of Industrialization and Trade, Lucia Iipumbu, has this week introduced the Property Practitioners Bill in the National Assembly, which contains the Fidelity Fund Certificate that aims to protect consumers against theft of money entrusted to a property practitioner. In terms of the bill, once a Fidelity Fund Certificate is issued to a property practitioner, should that property practitioner then steal money held in trust, the consumer can claim the money back from the fidelity fund. “This part of the bill also deals with the consequences of a property practitioner not having a Fidelity Fund Certificate. The…

13 Jun

UPM worried by lack of political interest among youth

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Erasmus Shalihaxwe The United People's Movement (UPM) has been struggling to attract the youth to take up positions within the party structures due to a lack of interest in politics. UPM president, Jan van Wyk revealed this during an interview with the Windhoek Observer while outlining the party’s plans for the November elections. He said that even though there has been a slight change in the number of young people joining the party, they are still behind when compared to other political parties. “Until recently, the UPM had a problem getting the youth into its ranks. We see a change…