Khomas

More needs to be done in terms of vaccination – Geingob

More needs to be done in terms of vaccination – Geingob

Tujoromajo Kasuto Covid-19 vaccination coverage is showing signs of progress, especially in the regions that have borne the brunt of the pandemic historically, such as Hardap, //Kharas, Khomas, and Erongo. However within the last month there has been a decline in the number of vaccines administered daily, says President Hage Geingob addressing the nation and the media during the 35th Covid-19 public briefing today. “During this period, the country recorded an average vaccine uptake of 2,871 doses per day, this figure has declined compared to the daily uptake a month ago thus there is a need to do more on…
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The rich hoard oxygen in homes

The rich hoard oxygen in homes

Staff Writer AS the Covid-19 crisis worsens and state hospitals in particular, get overwhelmed with the number of patients gasping for air in the face of the dire shortage of oxygen at the institutions, a number of rich people have resorted to buying their own oxygen tanks and turning their homes into intensive care units. Namibia is reeling under increasing Covid-19 infections with the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) announcing 1 518 new cases and three deaths were recorded in the country on Monday. Khomas has the largest share of new infections with 927 cases followed by Erongo…
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New 213 applicants awarded fishing quota

New 213 applicants awarded fishing quota

Andrew Kathindi The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Albert Kawana, has announced that 213 new applications for fishing quotas were approved by the Government. This number represents 71 percent of all the successful applicants. According to the ministry, 298 applications were successful out of the initial 5, 176 submitted in 2018. The main beneficiaries for the quotas are applicants in the Khomas region with 11 percent with Erongo with 9,9 percent. Kavango East and Kavango West regions were the lowest with 0,6 percent and 0,4 percent applications approved respectively. "It will also be shown that, unfortunately, some regions did…
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Low turnout marks COVID vaccination

Low turnout marks COVID vaccination

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has expressed concern at the low turnout of people being vaccinated for COVID-19. Only 218 people have so far been vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine under the first phase of the of the ministry roll out plan which ends on the 16th of April. “There is still low uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines, we encourage the target population groups, especially health care workers to get vaccinated,” said Health minister, Kalumbi Shangula. He argued, “Studies continue to show that COVID-19 vaccines work very well at keeping you from getting COVID-19 and…
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Khomas region tops COVID-19 cases …as the country records 122 new cases

Khomas region tops COVID-19 cases …as the country records 122 new cases

Helena Johannes On Thursday Namibia recorded 122 positive cases of COVID-19, the highest number recorded in recent months, with Khomas region leading with 66 of the total cases. The development comes after the country held its Regional and Local Authorities elections and the region having previously topped as the epicenter of the pandemic prior. Health minister, Kalumbi Shangula said the confirmed cases represent a nine percent positivity ratio, which is three times the ratio reported the previous day. “The increasing number of new Covid-19 cases in the Khomas district is concerning and calls for extra precaution especially during this time…
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Policing during and beyond the state of emergency

Tuhafeni Helao Following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and its subsequent devastating effect around the globe, the President declared the ‘state of emergency’ on 17 March 2020 and introduced 4 phased stages to mitigate the pandemic. On 27 March 2020, a lockdown was ordered for Khomas and Erongo regions. However, the state of emergency regulations were applied across all regions in the country. The declaration was in line with Article 26 (1) of the Namibian Constitution that provides for declaration of a state of emergency ‘in a time of national disaster or during a state of national defence or…
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Education, NANTU in compromise deal …as private schools stick to initial dates

Education, NANTU in compromise deal …as private schools stick to initial dates

Andrew Kathindi In last ditch effort to avoid a stalemate, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture and Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU) have struck a compromised deal. The final agreement between the Ministry and Union contains terms they previously found undesirable. Education minister Anna Nghipondoka, following negotiations over two days between her office, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and NANTU, announced that grades 7-9 will return to school in all regions on the 7th of September. The Khomas region is not included in this opening date. Grades 4-6 will reopen…
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Parents support schools reopening – Ministry … as union approaches Prime Minister again

Parents support schools reopening – Ministry … as union approaches Prime Minister again

Andrew Kathindi The Education Ministry maintains that 64 percent of participants in its survey on the best way to proceed with learning amidst the pandemic indicated a desire to return to face-to-face teaching. This comes as Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU) is set to meet the Prime Minister, Saara Kuugongelwa on Tuesday to voice its displeasure at President Hage Geingob’s announcement that grades 0-9 should reopen for face-to-face teaching on 7 September. According to the Ministry, it received feedback from 18,000 respondents. Of these 8,712 were parents; 4, 778 teachers and 2,820 learners while 1,565 were community members, drawn mostly…
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Khomas faces local transmissions risk

Khomas faces local transmissions risk

…as region records two cases Andrew Kathindi There is a growing concern in the Ministry of Health and Social Services that those travelers who leave the Erongo region untested could pose a risk of virus transmission for the Khomas region. Acting Director of Khomas Region in the Health Ministry, Patemoshela Hamunyela, told the Windhoek Observer that she was worried about people leaving Erongo region without being tested. They could infect people in other regions. “We are very worried that there is quite a number of travelers that are coming out of Erongo region. We don't know whether they are given…
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