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

World Health Organisation

Also known as: WHO · World Health Organization

UN health agency referenced in Namibian coverage of disease outbreaks, prevention standards, and health emergencies including malaria, Nipah virus, and leprosy.

Society

Namibia misses over one-third of TB cases, minister says

The News

Health and social services minister Esperance Luvindao says an estimated 34% of tuberculosis cases in Namibia go undetected, leaving infected people undiagnosed and outside the treatment system. The government notified 8,370 TB patients last year and achieved an 87% treatment success rate, but faces particular challenges in remote areas like Omaheke region, which it is addressing through active case finding and new national management guidelines.

25 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 25 March

  1. Namibia misses over one-third of TB cases, minister says

    Health and social services minister Esperance Luvindao says an estimated 34% of tuberculosis cases in Namibia go undetected, leaving infected people undiagnosed and outside the treatment system. The government notified 8,370 TB patients last year and achieved an 87% treatment success rate, but faces particular challenges in remote areas like Omaheke region, which it is addressing through active case finding and new national management guidelines.

    25 March 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Omaheke Region hardest hit by TB in Namibia, minister says

    On World Tuberculosis Day 2026, Health Minister Dr Esperance Luvindao reported that Omaheke Region has the highest TB case notification rate in Namibia, with many communities on remote farms and settlements facing difficulty accessing treatment. While Namibia achieved an 87% TB treatment success rate in 2024 and made progress on TB/HIV co-infection, the ministry estimates it missed 34% of total TB cases nationally, proportionally higher in Omaheke.

    25 March 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 18 March

  1. Endometriosis survivor shares health journey, raises awareness

    Mphonyana Verbeeck, a 39-year-old endometriosis advocate with stage four of the disease, shares her six-year ordeal of daily bleeding and subsequent loss of her uterus and ovary, while urging women to seek early medical help and raising awareness through an event at Namibia University of Science and Technology on 18 March.

    18 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 13 March

  1. Normalising menstrual pain silences questions about women's health

    A New Era columnist argues that cultural messaging treating severe menstrual pain as normal prevents girls from seeking medical investigation for conditions like endometriosis, which affects roughly one in ten women globally, and calls for open conversations about women's health during Women's Month.

    13 March 2026 · New Era →

  2. Israeli airstrikes on Iran oil depots pose long-term pollution risks

    Israeli bombing of Iranian oil infrastructure near Tehran has triggered immediate health concerns and long-term environmental damage, with experts warning of contaminated water and soil, acid rain, and respiratory hazards from toxic smoke and particulates. Tehran residents have already reported breathing difficulties, eye irritation, and throat burning from black rain containing soot and oil particles.

    13 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 10 March

  1. Ministry declares end of Mpox and CCHF outbreaks

    Namibia's Ministry of Health has formally ended both the Mpox outbreak in Swakopmund (which resulted in three confirmed cases, all recovered) and the Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever outbreak in Omaheke (one confirmed death), following 90 days and two incubation periods without new cases respectively. The ministry credited swift surveillance, contact tracing, and community awareness for the successful containment.

    10 March 2026 · New Era →

  2. Namibia declares end of Mpox and CCHF disease outbreaks

    The Ministry of Health and Social Services has officially declared the end of the Mpox outbreak in Swakopmund district (which produced three confirmed cases) and the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever outbreak in Omaheke Region (one confirmed case), following months without new infections and successful public health containment measures.

    10 March 2026 · Informanté →

Sunday 8 March

  1. South Africa reassures on sanitary pad safety amid chemical study concerns

    Following a University of the Free State study that detected endocrine-disrupting chemicals in menstrual products, the South African government and health experts have reassured women and girls that sanitary pads remain safe, noting that detected chemical concentrations are well below permissible limits and that the study did not establish a causal link between the products and health conditions.

    8 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 27 February

  1. Bat infestation disrupts classes at 45 Oshana region schools

    At least 45 schools in Oshana region are affected by bat infestations that disrupt lessons, create health hazards through droppings, and pose noise distractions. The regional education office has compiled a list of affected schools for fumigation and repairs to be considered in the 2026/2027 budget, but educators are calling for urgent action.

    27 February 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 24 February

  1. Alcohol consumption patterns shifting in Namibia amid rising costs

    Global alcohol consumption is declining due to higher living costs and health awareness, and while Namibia remains a high per-capita consumer, urban areas are showing similar trends toward reduced drinking and low- or zero-alcohol alternatives. However, alcohol abuse continues to devastate low-income townships and rural communities, fuelling domestic violence and health problems.

    24 February 2026 · New Era →

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