Ministry spokesperson Walters KamayasaysNHP members are welcome to seek treatment at government hospitals and clinics
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“Ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya says NHP members are welcome to seek treatment at government hospitals and clinics, emphasising that no patient would be turned away.”
Walters Kamayastatedgovernment committed to reducing waiting times through infrastructure and staff improvements
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“"The ministry is committed to reducing waiting times through infrastructural refurbishments, staff redeployment, recruitment and skills enhancement. Improvements to hospital management systems, including appointment scheduling and referral pathways, are also underway. Additionally, telemedicine will be expanded to handle non-urgent, low-risk cases [green cases], thereby increasing capacity and ensuring service quality," stated Kamaya.”
Walters Kamayaoutlinedmulti-step process for unclaimed bodies at hospitals
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“Health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya says the process begins with making a list of unclaimed bodies, which is then submitted to customer care officers for dissemination through the media to try and trace family members or friends.”
Health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamayatold The Namibian that the ministry will not decide against accused untilpolice investigations are completed
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“Health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya told The Namibian three weeks ago that the ministry will not decide against the accused until the police investigations are completed.”
Health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamayasays only senior officials will be treatedat the hospital during phase 1 of implementation
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“However, health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya says only senior officials will be treated at the hospital during phase 1 of implementation, and not even their dependants may make use of the new wing.”
Walters Kamayasaidfunding made available by DBN for development of all district hospitals
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“Health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya yesterday said funding has been made available by the Development Bank of Namibia for the development of all district hospitals, and not only for Windhoek District Hospital.”
health spokesperson Walters Kamayasaidgovernment has not yet finalised which services will be allocated to each sector
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“Responding to follow-up questions of which services would be provided at the two, health spokesperson, Walters Kamaya, said that the government has not yet finalised which services will be allocated to each sector.”
Walters Kamayasaidprojects remain incomplete because of funding constraints, contractors' failures, adverse economic conditions, and Covid-19 delays
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“The health ministry spokesperson, Walters Kamaya, yesterday said the projects remain incomplete because of funding constraints, contractors' failures, adverse world economic conditions and Covid-19 pandemic delays.”
The Ministry of Health and Social Services acknowledged systemic failures at the Windhoek Central Mental Health Centre, citing inadequate infrastructure and human resource deficits that contributed to poor supervision. The admission followed a patient escaping and a fatal police shooting incident.
Why it matters
Ministry admits systemic security failures at Windhoek Central Mental Health Centre following patient escape and fatal shooting incident.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services acknowledged systemic failures at the Windhoek Central Mental Health Centre, citing inadequate infrastructure and human resource deficits that contributed to poor supervision. The admission followed a patient escaping and a fatal police shooting incident.
Shortages of essential chronic medications for hypertension, diabetes, and ophthalmology at Windhoek Central Hospital could result in suspension of surgeries and risk of permanent blindness. An ophthalmologist warns that the department lacks critical glaucoma and post-operative medications and cannot safely continue cataract operations without them.
The family of Giano Seibeb, accused of trespassing at State House in Windhoek, is demanding to see closed-circuit television footage of the incident and wants answers on how he escaped Windhoek Central Hospital's mental health centre where he had been admitted. The incident led President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to suspend police inspector general Joseph Shikongo.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has urged 83,048 beneficiaries of the Namibia Health Plan to access dental care at public health facilities after dentists affiliated with the Namibia Dental Association halted services, citing payment claim delays. The government assured patients would not be turned away, while Namfisa said it was urgently assessing the situation.
Namibia's government has begun phased implementation of Vision April 2026, an initiative to transform public healthcare by improving accessibility, quality and citizen confidence. The programme, which mandates senior government officials to use public facilities starting April 2024, includes infrastructure upgrades, N$239 million in medical equipment procurement and recruitment of 2,307 health workers, with expansion to additional facilities planned for 2027.
An Okahandja woman is appealing for help to bury her partner of nine years, who died in hospital in March but remains unidentified after authorities found no official records of him despite fingerprint checks. Social workers are investigating through community connections, and the woman hopes public appeal will help trace his family or origin.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services will not take disciplinary action against four nurses, an intern doctor, and a doctor from Onandjokwe State Hospital accused of defrauding Sanlam of about N$1.9 million until police investigations are completed. The 12 arrested individuals are alleged to have helped members of the public claim insurance payouts using fake documents and fake death claims between 2020 and 2024.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah ordered government officials to use public hospitals from April, but Windhoek Central Hospital's new VIP unit exclusively for senior officials has drawn opposition criticism as discriminatory and contrary to equitable healthcare goals. Opposition leaders and analysts argue the separate facility undermines the reform and mirrors apartheid-era segregation.
The Development Bank of Namibia has allocated N$1 billion for construction of a 500-bed Windhoek District Hospital in Havana to address bed shortages and ease pressure on existing facilities in the Khomas region. The project is part of the government's healthcare infrastructure development plan and is expected to stimulate economic activity through construction and job creation, though land clearing remains pending before work commences.
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare visited Katutura and Central Hospital to assess readiness for a new policy requiring senior government officials to use State hospitals. The government has not yet decided which services will be offered at public versus private facilities; instead, patients will first be treated at State hospitals and referred to private providers if specialised care is unavailable.
Namibia has failed to complete or begin construction on at least five district and intermediate hospitals announced between 2007 and 2024, with the oldest project at Ondangwa dating back 19 years. The health ministry attributes the delays to funding constraints, contractor failures, and pandemic disruptions, while health workers and residents warn that the lack of accessible facilities forces patients to travel dangerously long distances for care.
Following a South African recall of Citro-Soda antacid batches, Namibia's Health Ministry is investigating whether affected products entered the local market and will consult with the Medicines Regulatory Council. The ministry has advised the public to remain vigilant and consult healthcare professionals if they experience unusual symptoms after using the product.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has confirmed that there are currently no unclaimed bodies in state mortuaries across Namibia, with all bodies either claimed or within legally required holding periods. This marks a turnaround from 2023, when Windhoek Central Hospital mortuary held over 200 unclaimed bodies, including infants and unidentified adults.
Aptamil Nutribiotik 2 and Aptajunior Nutribiotik 3 infant formulas have been recalled in South Africa due to potential cereulide toxin contamination in raw materials, with the manufacturer confirming the products were exported to Namibia. The Ministry of Health and Social Services says it has not yet received official notification of the recall, while concerned parents in Windhoek express worry about formula safety and availability.
Namibia's Ministry of Health and Social Services has abruptly suspended a tender process for building a N$194 million central medical store and is instead planning to lease and renovate part of the Ramatex Rhino Garments building at N$100,000 monthly, a pivot that the Global Fund (which approved the original construction plan) is reportedly discussing with the government.
The National African Students' Association has raised alarm over unpaid scholarship funds leaving Namibian government-sponsored health students in Zambia unable to pay for meals, accommodation, or tuition. The health ministry said it is preparing a statement on the issue.
Construction of a planned 500-bed state hospital in Windhoek's Havana settlement has not yet commenced, two years after a 2024 groundbreaking ceremony, despite being scheduled for 2027 completion. Residents and opposition parties question the project's progress, while the health ministry reports that preliminary infrastructure work including road and utility connections is underway.
The Zambezi region vaccinated 42,478 children against polio in a recent nationwide campaign, achieving high coverage with strong parent cooperation, though flooded roads hindered access to some remote areas. The health ministry urged parents to participate in a second vaccination round scheduled for 24–27 February 2026.
Namibia has registered Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injection to prevent HIV, which health experts welcome as an important addition to prevention efforts. Experts warn the injection does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy, and stress that condoms and other preventive measures must continue.
Agriculture specialist Bertus Kruger has urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to promptly renew work visas for foreign experts in agricultural projects, warning that delays could disrupt vital food security initiatives relying on advisers from Angola, Zimbabwe, and the EU. The home affairs ministry recently extended an amnesty for overstaying foreign nationals to 20 January, and a health ministry spokesperson stressed that all ministries must ensure foreign staff have legal immigration status.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has intensified a national polio vaccination campaign after poliovirus type 2 was detected in sewage samples in Kavango East in November 2025, though no clinical cases have been reported. The ministry plans nationwide vaccination rounds in January and February targeting children under 10, with house-to-house campaigns supported by the UN and World Health Organisation.