Covid-19 – Page 3 – Windhoek Observer

16 Aug

Council to revive Ramatex Covid-19 project

ObserverObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek, Covid-19, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, Mayor Job Amupanda, Minister of Health and Social Services, president Dr Hage Geingob

Staff Writer A DAY after the coalition of political parties that runs the city Council of Windhoek signed a cooperation agreement, Mayor Job Amupanda has announced that the council will turn part of Ramatex complex into a Covid-19 facility. This is despite Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Kalumbi Shangula shoting down the idea this June as not viable or sustainable. In a social media post this morning, Amupanda wrote: “Inform president Dr Hage Geingob, as he prepares his Covid-19 address that the City of Windhoek leadership last night took a decision that Ramatex will now have a Covid-19…

12 Aug

Dutch donation comes at crucial moment

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah

Staff Writer WHILE Namibia’s hope against Covid-19 lies in vaccinating at least 60-80 percent of the population to reach herd immunity, the country has not vaccinated more than five percent. Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, says. She received Covid-19 vaccines donated by the Netherlands on Wednesday. Appreciating the 75 000 Astrazeneca doses donation as coming at a crucial time with the country then having run out of the vaccine leaving some people not having received their second doses. The Minister thanked the Netherlands for the donation: “All countries in the world are affected by Covid-19 and when…

07 Aug

Botswana loses out on TRIPS flexibilities

ObserverUncategorisedCancer, Covid-19, HIV, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), TB

Soraya Mentoor and Tebogo Gareitsanye COVID-19 has highlighted and exacerbated pre-existing inequalities including poverty, unemployment and struggling public health care systems between rich and poor countries. With many countries in Africa struggling with high levels of HIV, TB and other chronic conditions (regarded as comorbidities), the UNAIDS Global AIDS Update shows that people living with HIV are at a higher risk of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality, yet many cannot access life-saving vaccines. Lack of access to affordable essential medicine has been, and continues to afflict many people in developing countries due to monopoly and high pharmaceutical prices driven by patents…

07 Aug

Erongo leads in unpredictable Covid-19 cases

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, Erongo, Minister of Health and Social Service

Staff Writer The unpredictable daily Covid-19 figures has seen Erongo region taking top spot with 64 cases and accounting for 23,4 percent of the 274 confirmed cases announced on Thursday. Erongo replaced Oshana and Zambezi who were joint leaders the previous day when the country recorded 237 new cases, with each region registering 42 cases. The composition of Thursday’s cases is 141 females and 133 males with ages ranging from five months to 100 years. According to an update by the Minister of Health and Social Service, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, on Thursday, 5 August, Walvis Bay recorded 41 new cases…

03 Aug

1000 succumb to Covid in one month …as Namibia surpasses the 3000 mark in deaths

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Gobabis, Oshakati, Rundu, Swakopmund, Windhoek

Tujoromajo Kasuto Namibia’s Covid-19 death toll has reached an alarming 3000 and continues to grow at a gradual pace, with the country recording over 1500 deaths in July only. Since the outbreak of the virus up to June 30, Namibia had recorded a total of 1521 deaths. The country has now exceeded the 3000 COVID-19 death mark, based on the latest figures from the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), with a total of 3064 recorded deaths. With 1543 of them only in July. On 14 July the highest number of deaths of 150 were recorded in one day…

29 Jul

ACC’s boss, Parliament debate on hold . . . following chaos in August House

ObserverObserver MoneyAnti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Covid-19, Parliament, Paulus Noa

Andrew Kathindi The debate on the re-appointment of Director–General of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Paulus Noa, is indefinitely on hold after Parliament descended into chaos. Swapo’s Party’s Chief Whip, Hambyuka, Hamunyela, proposed an “end” to the debate after nearly two hours into the debate. “I move in terms of rule 106 A of the standing rules and order that the question be now put to the speaker to close the debate.” The motion, which the Speaker tried to correct as not a motion, was not received well by the members of the Nati0nal Assembly with Speaker of Peter Katjavivi, stating…

27 Jul

COVID-19 contributes to drug use, psychiatrist says

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Windhoek Central Hospital

Tujoromajo Kasuto Stress during the Covid-19 pandemic has contributed to increased substance abuse, thus causing a snowball effect on the demand of illicit substances amidst the pandemic. Over the weekend the Namibian Police reported a number of arrests across the country involving drugs. According to Psychiatry Specialist, Mental health and Addiction professional at the Windhoek Central Hospital, Lahija Hamunjela, most of the admissions at the psychiatry ward are connected to substance abuse, which are predominantly an outcome of mental illness. Hamunjela says there is a close relationship between people who have depression and the use of substances. “The current stress…

23 Jul

A recommitment towards the youth: an insight into the third national youth policy

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, President Hage G. Geingob

The youth are the building blocks of a nation and increasingly the backbone of economies, especially in Africa. An investment into youth development is in turn an investment into the future of Namibia. It is therefore critical to mainstream youth development into the fabric of the national agenda. The First National Youth Policy was developed against this background and was first adopted in 1993. This version was then revised in 2006, which led to the Second National Youth Policy. These two documents were important for laying the foundation of the Third National Youth Policy (NYPIII) which is by far the…

22 Jul

Shangula refutes Delta variant being airborne

ObserverObserver MoneyCentre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Covid-19

Tujoromajo Kasuto Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Kalumbi Shangula, is refuting claims about the possibility the delta variant being airborne. “We have not said so, when we get new medical information, we will inform the public,” Shangula told Windhoek Observer. International media outlets, have quoted medical experts claiming that the Delta variant remains airborne longer than other previous variants. This is after Shangula announced the presence of the Delta variant, which the Health ministry confirmed earlier this month. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Acting Director in Namibia, Steven Hong, explained that COVID-19 and all known variants…

21 Jul

Swapo Headquarters completion a surprise

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Sophia Shaningwa, SWAPO

Swapo Party of Namibia Secretary General (SG), Sophia Shaningwa, says the completion of its headquarters is a surprise. Shaningwa says the party decided to keep the construction of its headquarters under wraps from the public. “We have taken the decision that when we are constructing it, it should be covered. So that you people cannot know what we are doing inside and the day when it opens, you see your surprise,” She states. She is tight lipped about the completion date saying “I don’t see any reason, why the Windhoek Observer should be concerned with regards to the completion of…