Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
August 2026
Informanté
UNICEF Namibia Country Representative Samuel Ocranencouragedfathers to take a more active role in supporting breastfeeding mothers
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“UNICEF Namibia Country Representative Samuel Ocran encouraged fathers to take a more active role in supporting breastfeeding mothers, saying breastfeeding is a shared family responsibility.”
United Nations Children's Fund country representative Samuel Ocransayssupportive communities and breastfeeding-friendly workplaces improve breastfeeding outcomes
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“United Nations Children's Fund country representative Samuel Ocran says supportive communities, baby-friendly hospitals and breastfeeding-friendly workplaces are proven to improve breastfeeding outcomes.”
UNICEF representative Samuel Ocransaidbreastfeeding-friendly workplaces improve breastfeeding outcomes
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“United Nations Children's Fund representative Samuel Ocran at the event said breastfeeding-friendly workplaces are among the proven measures that improve breastfeeding outcomes.”
UNICEF Namibia Country Representative Samuel OcransaidNamibia still has significant work to do on breastfeeding
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“Speaking at the same event, UNICEF Namibia Country Representative Samuel Ocran said although Namibia has made progress, the country still has significant work to do.”
Ocrancommendsthe strong collaboration between the schools and Tsumkwe Clinic
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“He also commends the strong collaboration between the schools and Tsumkwe Clinic, noting that closer links between education and health services are helping create a stronger support system for children.”
Samuel Ocranwarnsthousands of Namibian newborns continue to die in first days of life
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“United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) country representative Samuel Ocran warns that thousands of Namibian newborns continue to die in the first days of life, while many children under five are still falling ill from preventable diseases.”
Ocransaidtrained nurses are competent and have been empowered
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“"These nurses are not technicians, but they value the training they received. The way they explained the use of the cold-chain equipment, the storage of vaccines, how they monitor the temperature, check expiry dates to make sure they do not complicate child immunisation programmes, shows they are competent and have been empowered," Ocran said of the trained nurses.”
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare told junior councillors from Namibia's 14 regions at the opening of the fourth Junior National Council that young people must propose new ideas to develop the country and become problem-solvers, particularly on water and sanitation challenges. He urged young Namibians to take meaningful responsibility for issues affecting them including education, jobs, climate change, and access to clean water.
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare told junior councillors from Namibia's 14 regions at the opening of the fourth Junior National Council that young people must propose new ideas to develop the country and become problem-solvers, particularly on water and sanitation challenges. He urged young Namibians to take meaningful responsibility for issues affecting them including education, jobs, climate change, and access to clean water.
During World Breastfeeding Week 2026, Namibia's Deputy Minister of Health called for expanded counselling services, breastfeeding-friendly workplaces, and shared responsibility among families, communities, employers and government to support mothers. Breastfeeding should be exclusive for the first six months and continue alongside complementary foods thereafter.
The Namibia Employers' Federation supports reasonable measures enabling mothers to continue breastfeeding after returning to work, but has cautioned against a one-size-fits-all approach, noting that employers operate under vastly different circumstances in size, resources, and operating conditions.
The 2024 SMART Nutrition Survey found that 49% of children aged zero to five months in Namibia are exclusively breastfed. Deputy health minister Susan Ndjaleka warned that early weaning exposes babies to malnutrition and disease, and called for workplace policy changes including maternity leave and breastfeeding facilities.
Deputy health and social services minister Suzan Ndjaleka has called on public and private sector employers to introduce breastfeeding-friendly workplace policies, including maternity leave, dedicated breastfeeding corners, and flexible hours, saying mothers should not have to choose between their careers and their children's health.
Namibia's Health Ministry has announced a nationwide rollout of the "Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding" across health facilities after a 2024 survey found that only 49% of infants aged zero to five months are exclusively breastfed and early weaning onto inadequate foods is driving malnutrition and childhood illness.
A Unicef delegation visited Tsumkwe schools and health facilities and found increased school enrolment of 1,090 children, improved pupil retention, and a decline in pupil pregnancies. The visit was part of Unicef's regular programme monitoring to assess how initiatives supporting children and families are working on the ground.
Unicef's country representative warned during World Health Day that thousands of Namibian newborns continue to die in their first days of life and children under five remain vulnerable to preventable diseases including malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea. While Namibia has made progress in maternal and child health, officials stressed the need for preventive interventions and science-backed responses to emerging threats.
Research by Unicef shows that approximately 9% of internet-using Namibian children aged 12–17 — an estimated 20,000 children annually — experience online sexual exploitation or abuse. Police and justice sector officials are undergoing training to strengthen victim identification and enforcement efforts as digital exploitation increasingly involves sophisticated cross-border methods.