In a particular observe on 7 April 2023, His Excellency, Dr Hage Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia hailed international and nationwide public well being achievements of over the previous 75 years, attributing this to efficient partnership between governments and the World Well being Group. He referred to the groundbreaking work on COVID-19 vaccine growth which aided governments within the COVID-19 pandemic management and drastically decreased the variety of deaths and new infections globally. He additional praised the work performed via the World Polio Eradication Initiative since 1988 below the management of WHO which noticed a discount in polio circumstances by 99% due to the polio vaccine. The President mentioned that Namibia maintained its polio free standing since October 2008 via continued routine and supplementary immunization campaigns. He additional famous the achievements within the eradication of smallpox in 1980, following an formidable 12-year immunization programme led by the WHO. His Excellency additional referred to the nationwide efforts through the Hepatitis E outbreak which resulted in finish of the outbreak in March 2022. ‘This success is because of continued, sustained multi-sectoral collaboration with the WHO and different companions who supported the federal government efforts associated to case administration, surveillance, laboratory providers, an infection prevention and management, danger communication and neighborhood engagement, water, sanitation and hygiene’, he mentioned.
Previous to His Excellency’s assertion, the Ministry of Well being and Social Companies with the World Well being Group (WHO) collectively launched the WHO seventy fifth Anniversary through the World Well being Day Commemoration in Opuwo, Kunene Area on 6 April 2023. The occasion was preceded by a celebratory march and marked by conventional performances and appreciation of the well being interventions to make sure that the toughest to achieve have entry to important well being providers.
Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses, WHO Consultant mentioned in his remarks that the commemoration of World Well being Day this yr permits WHO and member states to take inventory of key international and nationwide public well being achievements of the previous 7 and a half a long time. He famous milestone achievements in international and nationwide public well being. One in all such achievement is the rise in life expectancy at delivery, globally, from 66.8 in 2000 to 73.3 in 2019. In 1974, the expanded programme on immunization was established to deliver lifesaving vaccines to youngsters of world.
He famous the achievement within the management of HIV pandemic and said that ‘Because the first HIV case in 1986, Namibia now has a generalized HIV epidemic with 8.54% of Namibians dwelling with HIV. Because of the early and steady partnership of WHO and different UN Companies, United States Authorities and different companions, the nation is without doubt one of the first excessive burden international locations to strategy epidemic management estimated to be at 92-99-94 as outlined by the UNAIDS 95-95-95 remedy cascade. New HIV infections have halved since 2004, and life expectancy elevated by 12 years, from 51 years in 2001 to 63 years in 2020’.
Dr Kalumbi Shangula, Minister of Well being and Social Companies, in his keynote deal with mentioned that ‘The theme for the World Well being Day 2023, “Well being for All”, speaks on to the points of accessibility and availability of well being care providers for all those that want them. The thrust of this theme is to encourage governments and different stakeholders to make sure that well being for all implies that all individuals and all communities get pleasure from good well being to steer a satisfying life in a peaceable, affluent, and sustainable method. For my part Well being for All additionally means a wholesome pure atmosphere. It means entry to primary socio-economic providers and facilities, resembling clear consuming water, wholesome and secure meals, private security, and clear communities. It implies that our youngsters, younger folks and adults dwell healthful and wholesome lives.’
Dr Shangula mentioned that ‘Well being for All’ refers to well being as a primary human proper and making certain that everybody, in all places have entry to well being providers after they want it. The Namibian Cupboard accredited the Common Well being Protection Coverage Framework final yr and t which can information the work of the Ministry to have interaction members of the general public concerning the actualization of Common Well being Protection within the nation. Dr Shangula mentioned that the federal government will undertake the ‘whole-of-government” and the “whole-of-society” approaches to its work.
He additional said that Namibia is ranked between 65% and 70% on the WHO Common Well being Protection Index. This, the Minister mentioned, makes Namibia one of many prime performing international locations in Africa with respect to progress in the direction of Common Well being Protection. He acknowledged that extra must be performed in an effort to obtain WHO goal of attaining Common Well being Protection of over 80% by 2030.
He famous that ‘Well being for All’ requires a talented workforce and strong funding in well being methods. ‘Robust well being methods are wanted to ship each Common Well being Protection and emergency preparedness and response’, he said. The Honorable minister referred to the Particular Session of the World Well being Meeting held on 1 December 2021 and established the Intergovernmental Negotiating Physique (INB) to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. Namibia has been actively taking part in these landmark discussions and have contributed to the next evaluation of the Worldwide Well being Rules (2005).
Dr Shangula concluded by congratulating WHO on its seventy fifth anniversary and reiterated the partnership between the Authorities of Namibia and WHO.