Namibia Minute.
Friday, 24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
Windhoek—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Person

Penda Ithindi

Also known as: Ithindi · executive director · Executive director of health and social services Penda Ithindi · Executive director in the health ministry

Penda Ithindi — Executive director of Namibia's Ministry of Health and Social Services overseeing pharmaceutical investigations.

Society

Nationwide polio vaccination campaign responds to Rundu outbreak

The News

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has launched a polio immunisation campaign using the Novel Oral Polio Vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) in response to a poliovirus type 2 outbreak in Rundu, Kavango East, with cases genetically linked to infections in Angola. The nationwide campaign, conducted in two rounds in January and February 2026, targets children from birth to 10 years, with over 39,300 children targeted in Kunene region alone.

27 January 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 27 January

  1. Nationwide polio vaccination campaign responds to Rundu outbreak

    The Ministry of Health and Social Services has launched a polio immunisation campaign using the Novel Oral Polio Vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) in response to a poliovirus type 2 outbreak in Rundu, Kavango East, with cases genetically linked to infections in Angola. The nationwide campaign, conducted in two rounds in January and February 2026, targets children from birth to 10 years, with over 39,300 children targeted in Kunene region alone.

    27 January 2026 · New Era →

Sunday 25 January

  1. Namibia launches nationwide polio vaccination drive after virus detection

    The Ministry of Health detected poliovirus Type 2 in sewage samples from Kavango East in November 2025, ending Namibia's polio-free status since 2006, though no actual cases have been reported. In response, a nationwide vaccination campaign targeting all children under 10 years will be conducted in two rounds in January and February 2026, using the Novel Oral Polio Vaccine Type 2.

    25 January 2026 · Informanté →

Saturday 24 January

  1. Namibia launches polio vaccination campaign following virus detection

    The Ministry of Health and Social Services will roll out a nationwide polio vaccination campaign in two rounds (26–29 January and 24–27 February) targeting children under 10, following the detection of poliovirus type 2 in sewage samples from Rundu in November 2025. Although no polio cases have been reported, laboratory investigations confirmed the virus was genetically linked to cases in neighbouring Angola.

    24 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 21 January

  1. Namibia's second cholera outbreak confirmed with 32 cases

    As of 12 January 2026, the Grootfontein district outbreak declared in November 2025 has recorded 99 suspected cases with 32 confirmed cholera cases and zero fatalities. The Ministry of Health attributes the low death toll to early detection and appropriate management, and is deploying a multi-sectoral response team to intensify surveillance and address water, sanitation and hygiene challenges driving the outbreak.

    21 January 2026 · New Era →

Friday 16 January

  1. 99 suspected cholera cases reported in Grootfontein outbreak

    As of January 12, 2026, Grootfontein has recorded 99 suspected cholera cases, of which 32 are confirmed, with no fatalities reported so far. The Ministry of Health and Social Services is deploying a multi-sectoral response team to address the outbreak through improved water supply, sanitation, and hygiene measures.

    16 January 2026 · Informanté →

Namibia Minute