The Namibian authorities’s dedication to bettering public well being efforts within the final 33 years has yielded optimistic outcomes leading to a rise within the nation’s life expectancy by 12 years since 2001.
In 2001, the typical lifespan of a Namibia was 51 years however in 2020 this elevated to 63 years. Moreover, funding in HIV pandemic management has additionally paid off considerably with a 65 p.c decline in new infections. HIV-related deaths in Namibia additionally declined by 74 p.c since 2004.
“Namibia is likely one of the first high-burden international locations to strategy epidemic management as per the UNAIDS 95-95-95 remedy cascade with 92 p.c of individuals residing with HIV conscious of their standing, 99 p.c of them being on HIV remedy and 94 p.c of these on HIV remedy being virally suppressed,” famous Dr Mary Brantuo, the WHO Namibia Officer in Cost.
Dr Brantuo spoke on the opening ceremony of the MODEL United Nations Excessive College convention on 1 November, the place she highlighted achievements in Namibia’s public well being house.
WHO Namibia, the United Nations Info Middle (UNIC), and the British Excessive Fee in Namibia hosted the 11th MODEL UN convention in collaboration with the Ministry of Training, Arts and Tradition.
Dr Brantuo stated, WHO is proud “to be related to the hard-won good points in public well being” for the reason that nation’s independence.
Moreover, Dr Brantuo additionally famous that the nationwide protection of immunization for many childhood vaccine preventable ailments is above the worldwide really useful charges making certain elevated baby survival.
“Namibia has maintained its polio-free standing since October 2008,” added Dr Brantuo. She addressed learners who had been taking part within the 11th annual MODEL United Nations Excessive College convention that passed off on the United Nations (UN) Home in Windhoek on the 1st and a couple ofnd of November 2023.
MODEL United Nations is a dynamic simulation of UN our bodies that allow younger individuals to tackle the position of diplomats representing totally different international locations. Because of this, the learners acquire first-hand expertise in worldwide relations and diplomacy.
This 12 months’s theme was “The rising burden of continual ailments and pandemics poses a problem for public well being techniques and requires modern approaches to enhance inhabitants well being, A brand new wave in public well being”.
The convention convened 100 learners from totally different excessive faculties in Windhoek and the Osire Secondary College. The learners debated, lobbied, offered place papers and handed resolutions through the two-day assembly.
Mr. Mzingisi Gqwede, the Director of Grownup Training within the Ministry of Training, Arts and Tradition burdened the significance of training and innovation in addressing the challenges of continual ailments and pandemics.
“You may make essential contributions proper at dwelling in your individual communities,” Anthea Basson, the Head of UNIC advised the contributors through the MUN NAM opening ceremony. She additionally advised contributors that their actions would not have to be on the world degree to make a distinction.
“MODEL UN has impacted learners positively,” commented Mr Edward Shati, a trainer at Hage Geingob Excessive College, one of many taking part faculties at this 12 months’s convention. Shati stated Hage Geingob Excessive College has had learners take part on the MODEL UN Conferences since 2017. Shati added that the convention has boosted the boldness of learners because of taking part in MODEL UN conferences.
Jayden Kambinda, a Grade 10 learner at Windhoek Worldwide College agrees that learners who take part in MODEL UN purchase new abilities together with negotiating, empathy, writing and public talking abilities.