Namibia Minute.
Friday, 24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
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Organization

Windhoek Central Hospital

Also known as: the hospital · WCH · Windhoek Central Hospital State mortuary

Windhoek Central Hospital — major public hospital where cataract surgical campaigns and cancer services are offered, and where senior officials are required to receive care under Vision April 2026.

Society

Namibia's public health sector reports infrastructure and medicine improvements

The News

President Nandi-Ndaitwah announced significant progress in healthcare delivery, including the full upgrading of seven major hospitals, direct procurement of medicines that has saved over N$221.5 million and increased medicine availability from 49% to 57%, and the recruitment of 3,471 healthcare workers. The government has also procured medical equipment including CT scan machines, ambulances, and specialized units such as ICUs and dialysis centers nationwide.

10 April 2026 · New Era →

Friday 10 April

  1. Namibia's public health sector reports infrastructure and medicine improvements

    President Nandi-Ndaitwah announced significant progress in healthcare delivery, including the full upgrading of seven major hospitals, direct procurement of medicines that has saved over N$221.5 million and increased medicine availability from 49% to 57%, and the recruitment of 3,471 healthcare workers. The government has also procured medical equipment including CT scan machines, ambulances, and specialized units such as ICUs and dialysis centers nationwide.

    10 April 2026 · New Era →

Thursday 9 April

  1. President outlines economic resilience, oil sector progress in address

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah delivered a State of the Nation Address highlighting Namibia's economic resilience despite global shocks, progress in oil and gas policy with Norwegian technical support, and achievements across sectors including mining (N$64.7 billion in exports), agriculture (N$2 billion in agricultural products), tourism, energy, and education, with GDP growth projected to rise from 1.7% in 2025 to 3.1% in 2026.

    9 April 2026 · New Era →

Monday 6 April

  1. Windhoek Central Hospital pauses food donations pending policy

    Windhoek Central Hospital has placed a temporary moratorium on all food donations to patients while it develops a policy framework to regulate such contributions. The hospital said the pause will ensure donations are managed safely, equitably, and in a structured manner before accepting further gifts.

    6 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 27 March

  1. Minister orders old TB hospital tenants to vacate by April 1

    Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi has ordered all occupants of the old tuberculosis hospital building in Windhoek to leave by 1 April, citing the building's unsuitability for occupation and illegal tenancy. The 25-room building houses both government and non-government employees, with tenants complaining that non-government occupants have damaged property, stolen materials, and sold illegal substances.

    27 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 14 March

  1. Health ministry clarifies Vision April 2026 directive scope

    The Ministry of Health and Social Services has clarified that Phase 1 of "Vision April 2026", beginning 1 April 2026, applies only to 294 senior government officials and not to teachers, nurses, police, or general civil servants. The directive aims to strengthen public healthcare, with designated facilities across the country prepared through infrastructure upgrades and equipment procurement worth N$239 million.

    14 March 2026 · Informanté →

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. 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 →

Thursday 12 March

  1. Windhoek Central Hospital water heating system restored for N$6.48m

    The Minister of Works announced the completion of Windhoek Central Hospital's industrial electric geyser system refurbishment at a cost of N$6.48 million, which included installation of 14 new industrial geysers with digital controls, replacement of corroded piping with plastic alternatives, and upgrades to electrical distribution boards across the facility.

    12 March 2026 · Informanté →

  2. 294 senior officials to use public hospitals from April

    Health and social services minister Esperance Luvindao announced that 294 senior government officials will be required to use public health facilities starting 1 April, though those wishing to see private doctors can still do so if the doctors have a public health licence and claim costs through government healthcare.

    12 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 11 March

  1. Parliament must strengthen laws to train specialist doctors locally

    National Assembly Speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila visited Windhoek Central Hospital's Children's Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and called for the Legislature to develop more bills to improve Namibia's training capacity for specialist workers, noting the country lacks experts in key medical fields and most specialists are trained abroad. A paediatric cardiologist highlighted that Namibia has only 10 to 15 sub-specialists across the entire country, describing the situation as "tragic" and pointing to an inability to build local training capacity.

    11 March 2026 · New Era →

Namibia Minute