Also known as: minister Luvindao · Dr. Luvindao · Dr Luvindao · Health and Social Services Minister Esperance Luvindao · Hon. Dr. Luvindao · Hon Dr Luvindao · health minister Esperance Luvindao · Dr Esperance Luvindao · Dr. Esperance Luvindao · Dr Esperence Luvindao · Minister of Health and Social Services Dr Esperance Luvindao · Health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao · current health minister Esperance Luvindao · Health and social services minister · Health Minister Dr. Esperance Luvindao · Minister of health and social services Esperance Luvindao
Health Minister reporting on malaria surge, cholera outbreak, and healthcare system challenges in Namibia during 2026.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
Informanté
She called on the facility to prioritise hygiene
“The minister further called on the facility to prioritise hygiene and urged supervisors to ensure staff are held accountable for maintaining hygienic standards at all times.”
Luvindao warns HIV room labels fuel stigmaInformanté
Dr Esperance Luvindao linked the recent increase in malaria cases to the public's reluctance to participate in indoor residual spraying
“THE Minister of Health, Dr Esperance Luvindao, has linked the recent increase in malaria cases to the public's reluctance to participate in the ministry's Indoor Residual Spraying programme, particularly in the north-eastern parts of the country.”
Luvindao attributes rising malaria cases to public reluctance to allow indoor sprayingInformanté
Luvindao confirmed that the ministry has adequate medical supplies and anti-malaria kits in stock
“"We have kits in stock. I've confirmed that. We have anti-malarias in stock. I've confirmed that," she added.”
Luvindao attributes rising malaria cases to public reluctance to allow indoor sprayingInformanté
Health Minister Esperance Luvindao said that four specialist oncologists are currently in training abroad
“Minister Luvindao said that four specialist oncologists are currently in training abroad, three of whom are earmarked for the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital to strengthen capacity in the densely populated northern regions.”
Three specialist oncologists are earmarked for the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital — LuvindaoNew Era
Dr Esperance Luvindao revealed Namibia has seven specialist oncologists
“Speaking during a recent handover event in Windhoek, she said that six of the oncologists are in the private sector, and one is in the public sector.”
Only one public oncologist – Luvindao … six countrywideNew Era
Luvindao stated their strategy includes development of a comprehensive National Cancer Control Programme
“The minister further stated their strategy is the development of a comprehensive National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP), which she said is now preoccupied with the development of the strategy by June this year.”
Only one public oncologist – Luvindao … six countrywideNew Era
Dr Esperance Luvindao says fighting cancer is a top priority of the government
“Adolf Kaure Health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao says fighting cancer is a top priority of the government.”
O&L pumps N$500 000 into cancer fightThe Namibian
health minister Esperance Luvindao announced that confirmed malaria cases rose sharply in the first four weeks of this year, with 8 760 infections reported
“He said this in response to health minister Esperance Luvindao announcing on Monday that confirmed malaria cases rose sharply in the first four weeks of this year, with 8 760 infections reported – up from 5 229 during the same period of last year – a 68% increase.”
Health ministry accused of failing to spray mosquitoes as malaria cases surge in northern NamibiaThe Namibian
Esperance Luvindao accepted cancer donation from Ohlthaver & List Group of Companies
“What a significant and joyous moment it is that I stand before you to accept the generous donation from the Ohlthaver & List Group of Companies.”
Esperance Luvindao accepts cancer donation at Windhoek Central HospitalNew Era
Health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao urged all travelling Namibians to take all necessary precautions
“Health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao urged all travelling Namibians to take all necessary precautions.”
Over 8 700 malaria cases recorded … 604 admissions, 11 deathsThe Ministry of Health and Social Services and the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund have signed an agreement to improve emergency medical response and trauma care through cooperation on ambulance services, equipment, facility improvements, and training.
5 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services and the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund have signed an agreement to improve emergency medical response and trauma care through cooperation on ambulance services, equipment, facility improvements, and training.
5 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia has recorded more than 122,000 malaria cases this year, with nearly 10,000 hospital admissions and over 100 deaths; 81% of cases are local transmission. Health Minister Esperance Luvindao called on communities to support Indoor Residual Spraying efforts to reduce transmission, citing preventable illness and strain on healthcare facilities.
4 September 2026 · Informanté →
Malaria has killed 122 people and hospitalised almost 10,000 this year, with more than 122,000 confirmed cases, according to Health Minister Dr Esperance Luvindao.
4 September 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Namibia's government has rejected a US proposal for health data and specimen-sharing worth over N$145 million per year for HIV and tuberculosis programmes, citing sovereignty and privacy violations. The US withdrew the biological specimen component in November 2025, though data-sharing negotiations continue.
31 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia and the US are negotiating new health sector funding to determine the future of HIV financing in the country, with negotiations intensifying since US President Donald Trump's return to power and the dismantling of USAID. The talks are contentious over data-sharing provisions, with recipient countries concerned that deals tie health aid to data access and critical minerals, though a US government source claims negotiations do not include sharing of personally identifiable data.
30 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Eleven children under five have died from diarrhoea-related illness in Namibia's Zambezi region this year, with 1,146 total diarrhoea cases reported in epidemiological week 31 of 2026, according to the health and social services minister. The cause remains under investigation.
25 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Diabetes patients in Namibia are finding it harder to obtain some medicines as shortages occur and more people use diabetes drugs for weight loss. The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council recently warned of an increase in unauthorised GLP-1 and peptide medicines being sold on social media for weight loss.
23 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Health and Social Services Minister Esperance Luvindao says Namibia should treat healthcare as a multi-billion-dollar industry to generate revenue for the public system and improve care quality. She suggested senior government officials using public health facilities could help redirect resources to strengthen state healthcare.
21 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's new Mental Health Bill, applauded in June, confronts operational challenges: the system is severely stretched with too few psychiatrists, inadequate resources, limited community services, and heavy reliance on a single Windhoek facility. In the 2023–2024 fiscal year, over 91,500 outpatient consultations, 11,400 inpatient admissions, and 542 deaths were reported.
17 August 2026 · New Era →
The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council quarantined two batches of Azithromycin Oral Suspension after complaints it failed to dissolve properly and contained lumps, while Cospharm Investments issued a voluntary recall of VCS Flumed Syrup after crystals were found in units.
14 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The N$21.7 million Onamafila Primary Health Care Clinic in Okongo District has officially opened, bringing healthcare services closer to 24 villages in Ohangwena Region. Minister of Health Esperance Luvindao inaugurated the facility as part of Namibia's commitment to Universal Health Coverage.
12 August 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Health and the University of Namibia signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the link between health training and practice, ensuring health professionals are prepared for practical work in hospitals, clinics and communities, and to promote home-grown research and innovation.
11 August 2026 · Informanté →
St. Mary's Hospital in Rehoboth has inaugurated a new N$3.93 million Radiology and Laboratory Unit, equipped with digital radiography technology and designed to serve over 53,000 residents. The facility is expected to improve diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, with the laboratory processing up to 78,000 specimens annually.
25 July 2026 · Informanté →
A mother has alleged that her six-year-old son's arm was amputated at Windhoek hospital following complications from a cast applied at Otjiwarongo State Hospital in April 2026. She claims the cast was applied too tightly, causing nerve damage and turning the child's arm blue, and says the hospital has not explained what led to the amputation.
16 July 2026 · Informanté →
Health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao announced that Namibia has met international criteria for ending the cholera outbreak after both Grootfontein and Opuwo health districts completed more than 28 days without a confirmed case. The outbreak, declared on 27 November 2025, resulted in 82 laboratory-confirmed cases out of 282 suspected cases and one death in Opuwo district.
15 July 2026 · New Era →
Health Minister Dr Esperance Luvindao has declared the end of Namibia's cholera outbreak, which claimed one life and infected 82 people over nearly five months, following more than 28 consecutive days without a confirmed case in affected districts. Health experts caution that the country remains at risk unless vigilance in sanitation, surveillance, and hygiene is maintained.
15 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services spent N$1,286,051.90 on compensatory payouts related to six settlements during the 2024/25 financial year, according to Health Minister Esperance Luvindao. This follows reports that the ministry spent nearly N$14.7 million on compensation claims between 2019 and 2024.
15 July 2026 · Informanté →
Health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao says the ministry paid N$1.28 million to settle six lawsuits during the 2024/2025 financial year.
15 July 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Namibia has officially contained the cholera outbreak that gripped Grootfontein and Opuwo for nearly five months, with health authorities declaring the disease eliminated after more than 28 days with zero new confirmed cases. A total of 82 confirmed cases were recorded (52 in Grootfontein and 30 in Opuwo) between November 2025 and April 2026, with one death reported in Opuwo.
14 July 2026 · Informanté →
The Office of the Speaker has rejected claims that National Assembly speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila is responsible for a growing backlog of unanswered parliamentary questions, stating the delays lie with the executive. Of 550 National Assembly questions tabled since the eighth parliament began, 166 have been disposed of and one was withdrawn for a ministerial statement.
8 July 2026 · The Namibian →
A retired pastor in Kalkfeld recounts how the lack of an available ambulance prevented his wife from attending medical appointments in February and May 2024, leading to her condition worsening and her death in July 2024. The shortage of ambulances in rural areas continues to delay emergency response, though a new ambulance has recently arrived in Kalkfeld to provide relief.
8 July 2026 · New Era →
The Namibian Ports Authority's social investment fund has donated two fully equipped ambulances to the Ministry of Health and Social Services to strengthen emergency medical services in the Otjozondjupa Region, with one earmarked for Kalkfeld, which previously relied on ambulances dispatched from Otjiwarongo, 60 kilometres away.
7 July 2026 · Informanté →
Health Minister Dr Esperance Luvindao announced the ministry of health and social services is planning to establish Namibia's first dedicated national air ambulance service to improve emergency medical care and access to treatment in remote communities. The announcement accompanies plans to procure 30 additional ambulances during the 2026/27 financial year.
7 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Government lawyers are accused of mishandling health-related legal cases and potentially sharing settlement payouts with senior ministry officials and claimants' lawyers. Between 2019 and 2024, the health ministry spent N$14.7m on medical claims, with about N$5.5m spent over the past year, amid delays in a nationwide medico-legal training programme.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services received two fully equipped ambulances from the Namport Social Investment Fund, with one allocated to Kalkfeld in Otjozondjupa region and the other to an area of greatest need. Health Minister Esperance Luvindao said the donation will strengthen emergency medical services in remote communities where long distances pose challenges to healthcare delivery.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Parliament has received allegations that medical doctors are leaving interns to run health facilities, including at Mariental and Oshakati hospitals. The Ministry of Health and Social Services is investigating the claims, which raise concerns about intern supervision, patient safety, and the quality of medical training.
5 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The ministry of health and social services has gazetted two new sets of regulations under the Health Professions Act of 2024, establishing procedures for serving official documents on registered health professionals and setting out requirements for authorising health practitioners in government employment.
2 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services is investigating allegations that doctors are leaving interns in charge of health facilities, with preliminary investigations underway in at least two cases. Health minister Esperance Luvindao told parliament the ministry has received reports suggesting the cases are not isolated and is working to increase health facility inspections, including surprise visits.
1 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services plans to acquire 60 ambulances between the 2025/26 and 2027/28 fiscal years as part of efforts to strengthen emergency medical response services and improve ambulance availability and response times nationwide. Health Minister Esperance Luvindao said 36 ambulances were commissioned in May 2025 and distributed across regions, with nine additional panel van ambulances to be deployed within three weeks, and the ministry is also reviewing vehicle deployment to reallocate resources to areas in need.
29 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Health and Social Services Minister Esperance Luvindao rejected claims that ambulance shortages caused deaths in an August 2025 Mariental road crash, saying reports of unavailable emergency vehicles are inaccurate. An Independent Patriots for Change MP had raised concerns about ambulance availability, staffing, and the operational status of the oxygen plant at Mariental State Hospital, alleging transport challenges contributed to the deaths of a pregnant woman and her sister.
29 June 2026 · Namibian Sun →