Bernard Haufiku – Windhoek Observer

27 Jul

Shangula hits back at Haufiku

ObserverObserver MoneyBernard Haufiku, Health Minister, Kalumbi Shangula

Andrew Kathindi A war of words has erupted between Health Minister, Kalumbi Shangula, and his predecessor, Bernard Haufiku, after the minister hit back at Haufiku’s comments recently made on how government had botched its COVID-19 response. In a recent interview with Windhoek Observer, Haufiku said that he had presented several scenarios to the Health ministry in April on how to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country; however, his suggestions were ignored. However, Shangula has not taken kindly to Haufiku’s claims, stating that the COVID-19 task team, which he heads as minister, was under no obligation to follow the…

Haufiku in appointment limbo

ObserverObserver MoneyBernard Haufiku, Covid-19, Ministry of Health and Social Services

Andrew Kathindi The National Coordinator for the response to COVID-19, Dr Bernard Haufiku, has still not received his appointment letter, nearly two months after his assignment to the position. Haufiku, who is the former Minister of Health, was appointed prior to Stage 1 of the national lockdown as the National Coordinator for the Covid-19 task force and emerged as the face of the response team, giving frequent updates on national statistics with regard to COVID-19. However, it is believed that Haufiku’s candid approach to how government handles the response including admitting the slow testing pace, has increased his credibility among…

Namibia lags in Covid 19 testing

ObserverObserver MoneyBernard Haufiku, Covid-19, Namibia

Staff Writer Former Health Minister and National Coordinator of the Covid-19 task team, Bernard Haufiku says with the current low number of Covid-19 tests conducted in relation to the population and disappointingly high level of people movement, the country cannot confidently say it’s on top of the pandemic in Namibia. According to Haufiku the country should have carried out 5,000-10,000 tests by now, more than a month since the country announced its first positive case in March. “The less than 500 tests we have carried out so far is nothing in relation to our population. We should at least have…