Namibia Minute.
Thursday, 23 July 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Thursday, 23 July 2026
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Namibian press · Person

Walters Kamaya

2025-01-092026-07-23
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What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

  1. February 2026

  2. The Namibian

    Health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya says construction of the dual carriageway access road and bulk water supply is 77% complete

    Source

    “Health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya says construction of the dual carriageway access road and bulk water supply lines is 77% complete.”

    Govt behind schedule on N$2.9bn district hospital

  3. New Era

    Health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya stated 42,478 children in the region were vaccinated

    Source

    “In an interview with the information ministry, health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya stated that a total of 42 478 children in the region were vaccinated, demonstrating strong cooperation from parents and caregivers.”

    Zambezi administers over 42 000 polio vaccines

  4. New Era

    Kamaya noted reaching some communities in Zambezi remains a challenge due to flooded and inaccessible roads

    Source

    “However, Kamaya noted that reaching some communities in Zambezi remains a challenge due to flooded and inaccessible roads, which affected access to hard-to-reach areas.”

    Zambezi administers over 42 000 polio vaccines

  5. The Namibian

    Walters Kamaya says Namibia among first African countries to register next-generation PrEP option

    Source

    “Ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya says Namibia is among the first African countries to register this next-generation pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option, alongside South Africa and Zambia.”

    New HIV injection registered, but condoms still crucial
  6. January 2026

  7. The Namibian

    Walters Kamaya urged all ministries to ensure immigration status of foreign nationals employed by them is legal

    Source

    “Ministry of Health and Social Services spokesperson Walters Kamaya has urged all ministries to ensure that the immigration status of foreign nationals employed by them is legal, warning that ministries could be held accountable if their foreign experts are found to be in the country illegally.”

    Agriculture expert urges speedy work visa renewals

  8. The Namibian

    Walters Kamaya says detection should not cause panic but requires swift action to protect children

    Source

    “Health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya says the detection should not cause panic but it requires swift action to protect children.”

    Health ministry steps up polio response in Kavango East
  9. December 2025

  10. The Namibian

    Ministry of Health and Social Services spokesperson Walters Kamaya said the ministry was not aware of the outcome of the disciplinary process

    Source

    “Asked for comment, ministry of health and social services spokesperson Walters Kamaya says the ministry was not aware of the outcome of the disciplinary process.”

    Guilty verdict reopens family’s painful chapter
  11. January 2025

  12. The Namibian

    Walters Kamaya said of 161 babies born, 90 were girls and 71 were boys

    Source

    “Walters Kamaya, spokesperson of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, said of the 161 babies born, 90 were girls and 71 were boys.”

    Namibia welcomes 161 babies on New Year's Day
Society

Medicine shortage at Rundu Hospital part of nationwide crisis

The News

The Ministry of Health and Social Services says a critical shortage of medicines at Rundu State Hospital and clinics is not isolated but a countrywide issue, with patients leaving without medications and those with chronic conditions at particular risk. The ministry says it is addressing the shortage and has committed to providing monthly updates on pharmaceutical stock levels at government Central Medical Stores.

21 July 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 21 July

  1. Medicine shortage at Rundu Hospital part of nationwide crisis

    The Ministry of Health and Social Services says a critical shortage of medicines at Rundu State Hospital and clinics is not isolated but a countrywide issue, with patients leaving without medications and those with chronic conditions at particular risk. The ministry says it is addressing the shortage and has committed to providing monthly updates on pharmaceutical stock levels at government Central Medical Stores.

    21 July 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 20 July

  1. Doctor arrested in second rape investigation within five years

    A 31-year-old doctor at Onandjokwe Hospital was arrested over the weekend on allegations of raping a 26-year-old man at his room. The arrest comes three years after the Windhoek High Court acquitted the doctor of a separate rape charge involving an 18-year-old patient at Katutura Intermediate Hospital.

    20 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 16 July

  1. Boy's arm amputated after tight cast at Otjiwarongo Hospital

    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 →

Monday 6 July

  1. State lawyers accused of mishandling medical claims, losing millions

    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 →

Sunday 28 June

  1. Health ministry procurement committee blocks N$1b emergency tender

    The Ministry of Health and Social Services' procurement committee has blocked senior officials' proposal to bypass public tender procedures for a N$1-billion medicine purchase, citing concerns that emergency procurement could be abused. The tender was meant to address medicine shortages at public hospitals and clinics.

    28 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 25 June

  1. Mental health patients lack medication at state hospitals

    Mental health patients at Oshakati, Engela and Okahandja state hospitals are without medication due to shortages, raising concerns about relapses and worsening illness. The Ministry of Health and Social Services says it has received some deliveries and expects more in coming weeks, with monthly updates to follow.

    25 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 24 June

  1. NMRC clears Fabupharm paracetamol syrup after safety tests

    The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council has cleared Fabupharm Pty Ltd's paracetamol syrup for use after independent laboratory tests confirmed it met safety and quality standards. The clearance was issued in May following the product's recall last year, which came after routine inspection shortcomings were identified.

    24 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 23 June

  1. Ondangwa hospital project scaled down to district facility

    The government has scaled down its plans to build an Ondangwa referral hospital, with Oshana governor Hofni Iipinge announcing the project will instead become a 700-bed district hospital. The feasibility study and environmental assessments have been completed, with the AfDB providing financing in collaboration with the ministries of finance and health and social services.

    23 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 17 June

  1. Gobabis State Hospital nurses report prolonged overtime payment delays

    Nurses at Gobabis State Hospital say they have not received overtime payments for months, with some claiming no payments since January. The Ministry of Health and Social Services acknowledges outstanding overtime claims from the 2025/26 financial year but says they are awaiting treasury approval.

    17 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 16 June

  1. Environmental health practitioners petition for grade structure review

    Environmental health practitioners and assistants across Namibia have petitioned the ministry of health and social services to review and upgrade their profession's grading structure, arguing that their qualifications and responsibilities are not adequately reflected in the current public service framework. The practitioners, who hold honours degrees and diplomas respectively, perform essential public health functions including food safety, water quality monitoring, sanitation, waste management, vector control, and disease surveillance.

    16 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 15 June

  1. Health Ministry cancels N$44.8 million pharmaceutical orders

    The Ministry of Health and Social Services has cancelled pharmaceutical and clinical product orders worth N$44.8 million extended to 12 companies after suppliers failed to deliver medicines to the Central Medical Stores, including treatments for mental illness, cancer, and chronic conditions.

    15 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 14 May

  1. Windhoek mental health facility admits systemic security failures

    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.

    14 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 12 May

  1. State hospitals face critical shortages of eye care medicines

    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.

    12 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 7 May

  1. State House intruder's family seeks CCTV footage and answers

    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.

    7 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 4 May

  1. Ministry offers public dental care as NHP payment crisis stalls private dentists

    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.

    4 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 17 April

  1. Government launches Vision April 2026 healthcare reform initiative

    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.

    17 April 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 15 April

  1. Okahandja woman seeks identity help to bury partner

    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.

    15 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 14 April

  1. Health ministry awaits police conclusion on hospital fraud case

    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.

    14 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 12 April

  1. VIP hospital unit contradicts healthcare reform drive, critics argue

    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.

    12 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 5 April

  1. DBN funds N$1 billion Windhoek District Hospital construction

    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.

    5 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 1 April

  1. PM says public and private healthcare can work together

    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.

    1 April 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 26 March

  1. Five promised hospitals remain unfinished after years of delays

    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.

    26 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 23 March

  1. Namibia monitors South African Citro-Soda recall for safety risks

    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.

    23 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 13 March

  1. Ministry confirms no unclaimed bodies in state mortuaries

    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.

    13 March 2026 · New Era →

  2. Recalled South African baby formula may have reached Namibia

    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.

    13 March 2026 · The Namibian →

  3. Government halts medical store construction, leans toward renting Ramatex facility

    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.

    13 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 9 March

  1. Namibian health students in Zambia lack scholarship funds

    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.

    9 March 2026 · New Era →

Friday 27 February

  1. N$2.9bn Windhoek district hospital construction delayed two years

    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.

    27 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 4 February

  1. Zambezi region reaches over 42,000 children in polio vaccination drive

    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.

    4 February 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 3 February

  1. New HIV injection approved but condoms remain essential

    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.

    3 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Walters Kamaya — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute