Also known as: WHO · World Health Organization
United Nations agency reporting on global health issues including drowning deaths, cancer disparities, and vaping prevalence among Namibian youth.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
Windhoek Observer
World Health Organisation committed US$4.64 million towards Namibia's outbreak response
“The WHO committed US$4.64 million (about N$76.6 million) towards Namibia's outbreak response, including the deployment of surge personnel and technical support.”
Namibia halts polio vaccinations after reaching 90% targetWindhoek Observer
The World Health Organization committed US$4.64 million towards Namibia's outbreak response, including deployment of surge personnel and technical support
“The WHO committed US$4.64 million (about N$76.6 million) towards Namibia's outbreak response, including the deployment of surge personnel and technical support.”
Namibia halts polio vaccinations after reaching 90% targetNew Era
World Health Organisation collaborated with International Atomic Energy Agency's Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy mission to Namibia
“This was in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).”
Namibia records 1900 cancer deathsThe Namibian
World Health Organisation estimates about 1 in 5 women globally experience mental health challenges during pregnancy or after childbirth
“The World Health Organisation estimates that about 1 in 5 women globally experience mental health challenges during pregnancy or after childbirth.”
Who Sees the Mother!The Namibian
World Health Organisation was dismissed by South African government for characterisation of death toll in xenophobic violence
“In a statement released on 15 June, the South African government stated that the WHO's characterisation was "incorrect".”
SA dismisses WHO boss’s claim of 10 foreign nationals killed in xenophobic violenceWindhoek Observer
WHO warned that nicotine addiction among teenagers is deliberately engineered by tobacco and vape industry
“A senior World Health Organization (WHO) official has warned that nicotine addiction among teenagers is not accidental but deliberately engineered by the tobacco and vape industry, as new national data reveals that nearly one in four school-going adolescents in Namibia currently uses vaping products.”
OBSERVER COASTAL | School survey reveals widespread vaping among teensWindhoek Observer
World Health Organization (WHO) is part of imPACT Review Mission in Windhoek to assess Namibia's cancer systems
“Speaking at the opening of the World Health Organization (WHO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) imPACT Review Mission in Windhoek on Monday, Luvindao described cancer as one of Namibia's most pressing public health threats.”
Namibian cancer cases set to surge 84% by 2045The Namibian
World Health Organisation is most concerned about late detection of outbreak, ongoing conflict and insecurity in affected areas
“"What the World Health Organisation is most concerned about is not so much the current numbers, but the late detection of the outbreak, the ongoing conflict and insecurity in these affected areas," Coetzee says.”
South Africa border officials on alert as Ebola outbreak expandsInformanté
World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm over rapid global rise of nicotine pouches and aggressive marketing tactics by transnational tobacco companies
“A NEW World Health Organization (WHO) report has raised alarm over the rapid global rise of nicotine pouches, warning that aggressive marketing tactics by transnational tobacco companies are driving youth uptake, exploiting regulatory gaps, and fuelling a fast-growing multi-billion-dollar market.”
New WHO report raises alarm over fast-growing nicotine pouch marketInformanté
WHO calls on governments to close regulatory loopholes by banning or tightly regulating nicotine pouches
“The report calls on governments to urgently close regulatory loopholes by banning or tightly regulating nicotine pouches, restricting flavours that appeal to children, introducing plain packaging and stronger health warnings, and ensuring effective taxation to reduce youth access.”
New WHO report raises alarm over fast-growing nicotine pouch marketNamibia has recorded 122 malaria deaths and 122,612 confirmed cases so far this year, with the government preparing to spray 1.2 million households in malaria-prone regions. The health minister announced that 99,078 cases were contracted locally while 23,354 were imported, and Kavango East region accounts for 30.6% of cases.
6 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia has recorded 122 malaria deaths and 122,612 confirmed cases so far this year, with the government preparing to spray 1.2 million households in malaria-prone regions. The health minister announced that 99,078 cases were contracted locally while 23,354 were imported, and Kavango East region accounts for 30.6% of cases.
6 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's government has rejected a US proposal for health data and specimen-sharing worth over N$145 million per year for HIV and tuberculosis programmes, citing sovereignty and privacy violations. The US withdrew the biological specimen component in November 2025, though data-sharing negotiations continue.
31 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia and the US are negotiating new health sector funding to determine the future of HIV financing in the country, with negotiations intensifying since US President Donald Trump's return to power and the dismantling of USAID. The talks are contentious over data-sharing provisions, with recipient countries concerned that deals tie health aid to data access and critical minerals, though a US government source claims negotiations do not include sharing of personally identifiable data.
30 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibia National Olympic Committee president presented a speech at the fourth Namibia Oil and Gas Conference advocating sport as a vehicle for employment and youth development, citing national unemployment at 36.9% and youth unemployment at approximately 44%.
24 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian men are being urged to speak more openly about mental illness and suicidal thoughts, as cultural expectations of silent endurance contribute to a national social crisis. According to the Ministry of Health and Social Services, 542 suicides were recorded in the 2023/24 financial year, with 449 being men—more than 82% of all reported suicide deaths.
24 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Diabetes patients in Namibia are finding it harder to obtain some medicines as shortages occur and more people use diabetes drugs for weight loss. The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council recently warned of an increase in unauthorised GLP-1 and peptide medicines being sold on social media for weight loss.
23 August 2026 · The Namibian →
World Health Organisation director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and praised her efforts reforming Namibia's health sector and improving patient care, particularly her unannounced hospital visits to assess actual conditions.
21 August 2026 · New Era →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah held separate meetings with the heads of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization at State House, focusing on Namibia's health priorities and regional cooperation. The discussions centred on the fifth Southern Africa Regional Ministerial Steering Committee meeting being hosted in Namibia, with emphasis on African countries working together to address challenges and advance sustainable development.
20 August 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia's new Mental Health Bill, applauded in June, confronts operational challenges: the system is severely stretched with too few psychiatrists, inadequate resources, limited community services, and heavy reliance on a single Windhoek facility. In the 2023–2024 fiscal year, over 91,500 outpatient consultations, 11,400 inpatient admissions, and 542 deaths were reported.
17 August 2026 · New Era →
The Cancer Association of Namibia is using National Cancer Awareness Week (3–7 August) to promote HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening, warning that the disease is the second most common cancer among Namibian women despite being largely preventable. Namibia records about 453 new cervical cancer cases annually, with an age-standardised incidence rate of 37.2 per 100,000 women.
5 August 2026 · Informanté →
New research published in the New England Journal of Medicine, co-authored by Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz and others including Monica Geingos, finds that economic inequality rather than traditional measures like laboratory capacity is the strongest predictor of how countries respond to health crises, arguing that technical capacity alone is insufficient without addressing inequality.
5 August 2026 · Informanté →
According to WHO and Ministry of Health data, 23% of school-going adolescents aged 13–17 use vaping products, with usage among teenage boys reaching nearly 30%, while broader youth usage (ages 13–25) may be as high as 31%. Between 2021 and 2024, Namibia imported N$1.4 billion worth of vapes and related nicotine products sold for as little as N$100, prompting educators to regularly confiscate devices from primary school pupils.
2 August 2026 · The Namibian →
A 27-year-old Namibian man shares his story of vaping addiction that began during Covid-19 lockdown and progressed to repeated hospital admissions and a serious lung condition, despite warnings from doctors about the dangers, particularly given his pre-existing asthma.
31 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia commemorated World Population Day 2026 with focus on youth health, opportunities, and teenage pregnancy prevention, launching a UNFPA report that surveyed over 108,000 young adults aged 18 to 39 across 73 countries. The report found that while many young people aspire to marriage and children, financial insecurity, rising living costs, and housing challenges are preventing them from achieving their desired futures.
29 July 2026 · Informanté →
Mentor and life coach Sidney Boois told a men's mental health awareness event at Eros Primary School that men must speak about challenges rather than suffer in silence, emphasizing that talking is the first step toward protecting mental health. The call comes as Namibia reported 1,474 suicides last year, with local figures including a soccer coach and hockey player supporting the need for open conversations and mutual support.
25 July 2026 · The Namibian →
SADC governments spend billions on medicines and supplies, yet hospitals and clinics face shortages of essential drugs. A regional pooled procurement system, approved in 2017, would allow member states to combine purchasing power and negotiate better prices, but implementation remains slow nearly a decade later.
23 July 2026 · New Era →
The World Health Organisation reports that more than 300,000 people die from drowning annually, with children and young people disproportionately affected. More than 90% of drowning deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where people are exposed to water hazards through daily activities including collecting water, fishing, farming and travel.
22 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia is estimated to record 4,205 new cancer diagnoses annually according to the 2024 Global Cancer Observatory estimates, a substantial increase from approximately 3,700 cases previously. The three most diagnosed cancers are breast cancer (701 patients), cervical cancer (453 patients), and prostate cancer (440 patients), with Namibia maintaining one of Africa's highest age-standardised incidence rates at 202.2 per 100,000 population.
16 July 2026 · New Era →
A new WHO Global Status Report on Cancer warns that cancer is an increasing global crisis with the greatest growth expected in low- and middle-income countries. In Namibia, the report's ABC-DO study found significant disparities in breast cancer survival rates across racial groups, with white women at 84%, mixed-race women at 69%, and black women at 45%, linked to delays in diagnosis and treatment access.
16 July 2026 · Informanté →
Health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao announced that Namibia has met international criteria for ending the cholera outbreak after both Grootfontein and Opuwo health districts completed more than 28 days without a confirmed case. The outbreak, declared on 27 November 2025, resulted in 82 laboratory-confirmed cases out of 282 suspected cases and one death in Opuwo district.
15 July 2026 · New Era →
The Windhoek Observer warns that children across Namibia, some as young as 10, are smoking Hubbly Bubbly, vaping, and mixing these substances with alcohol and cannabis, skipping school and financing habits through distribution; the National Council is investigating the issue, but the outlet urges that consultations must lead to meaningful action rather than reports without follow-through.
15 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Health Minister Dr Esperance Luvindao has declared the end of Namibia's cholera outbreak, which claimed one life and infected 82 people over nearly five months, following more than 28 consecutive days without a confirmed case in affected districts. Health experts caution that the country remains at risk unless vigilance in sanitation, surveillance, and hygiene is maintained.
15 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Members of Parliament have launched stakeholder consultations from 13 to 31 July 2026 to examine the health impact of hubbly bubbly (hookah) use on Namibian youth in several regions. Previous oversight visits to Hardap, Khomas, and Erongo regions in August 2024 found widespread use among learners, with concerns about addiction, academic performance, and mixing hookah with alcohol or drugs.
14 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The City of Windhoek destroyed approximately 580,000 kilograms of food deemed unfit for human consumption and obtained a court order to close a non-compliant food business as part of a food safety enforcement drive. The municipality also conducted 140 sampling exercises across formal and informal businesses to monitor compliance with food safety standards.
9 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Democratic Republic of Congo has reported confirmed Ebola cases increasing to 1,561 with 506 deaths, involving the Bundibugyo strain for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment. The majority of cases remain concentrated in Ituri Province, with transmission now confirmed across multiple health zones in a complex humanitarian and security environment.
7 July 2026 · Informanté →
A heatwave sweeping Europe has been linked to more than 1,300 excess deaths since 21 June, according to WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus, with France reporting around 1,000 extra deaths since Wednesday. Record temperatures have been broken across the continent, including in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, with Tedros warning that Europe is heating at twice the global average and calling for heat health action plans.
2 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's Deputy Health Minister said some children were missed during polio outbreak response vaccination campaigns, despite achieving more than 90 percent coverage nationwide. The ministry is reviewing vaccination coverage, microplanning, team deployment, vaccine logistics, and other aspects of the campaign to ensure comprehensive protection against poliovirus transmission.
1 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian children have limited access to safe outdoor spaces for play despite Windhoek having 32 city park facilities. Residents report that some parks are unsafe, under-maintained, or unfit for different age groups, limiting their use.
30 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia has successfully interrupted transmission of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 following a nationwide vaccination campaign that reached more than 90% of targeted children, with no virus detected since 4 March 2026. The response was supported by more than N$76.5 million in financial aid from the WHO.
30 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Ministry of Health announced that Namibia has successfully interrupted transmission of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 following a nationwide vaccination campaign that reached more than 90% of targeted children and received more than N$76.5 million in WHO support. No circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus has been detected since 4 March 2026.
30 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →