Covid-19 – Page 9 – Windhoek Observer

02 Mar

The New Normal: Cyber Security During COVID-19

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF)

Martin Hamukwaya The Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) has in recent years increased the shift and reliance in the use of information technology for our staff and members. When the COVID-19 pandemic reached Namibia and subsequently invoked the lockdown, it encouraged the use of many other effective ways the Fund can offer services to our members from the comfort of their homes. This effectively changed the way we operate at GIPF, which now translated into “The New Normal”. The “New Normal”, provides our members with assurance that they will be attended to without necessarily having to visit any of the…

02 Mar

Shangula dismisses third wave concerns …as CDC cautions

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Health and Social Services (MoHS), Kalumbi Shangula

Andrew Kathindi Health and Social Services (MoHS) minister, Kalumbi Shangula, has downplayed the probability of a third wave of COVID-19 hitting Namibia anytime soon. This comes after South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, on Sunday warned that the, “threat of a third wave is constantly present, as is the threat of yet more new variants”. Shangula stated that he was not aware of Ramaphosa’s warning, but queried, “How can they talk about a third wave when they are relaxing all the control measures?” South Africa on Sunday relaxed some of its regulations in the control of the spread of COVID-19. The…

25 Feb

COVID-19 vaccine delivery shifts to March …as N$583m is budgeted

ObserverObserver MoneyAstraZeneca, COVAX, Covid-19

Andrew Kathindi Government now expects the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is being procured under the COVAX Facility, only in March. This is a shift from a January communique with the COVAX Facility, which had informed Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) , Kalumbi Shangula, that the vaccine should be expected in the country by the middle or end of this month. “The COVAX Facility allocated doses of vaccines to Namibia are expected in March 2021,” stated Shangula. The AstraZeneca vaccine, however, has been found to be ineffective against the new variant in South Africa. According to the Health minister, the…

23 Feb

Time to decolonise, redefine global health

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19

Fifa Rahman, Felicita Hikuam, Nyasha Chingore-Munazvo, and Gisa Dang* The COVID-19 pandemic is a bleak reminder of the enduring inequity in global public health. Despite early warnings, the global response does not take into account the racial inequality underpinning health outcomes (think lack of healthy food options, green spaces, safety, housing density), nor that diagnostic tools such as pulse oximeters are not accurate on non-white skin. Glaringly, Global North responses to COVID-19 have not been the most efficacious nor the most effective. For example, the United Kingdom, the United States and Sweden have failed to adequately protect their populations, while…

23 Feb

Namibia records 100 Covid-19 deaths in a month

ObserverObserver MoneyCOVAX, Covid-19

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Namibia’s COVID-19 death toll continues to grow at an exponential rate, with the country recording over 100 deaths in one month. Since the outbreak of the virus up to January 21, Namibia had recorded a total of 300 deaths. The country’s COVID-19 deaths have now surpassed the 400 mark according to the latest figures from the Health ministry, with a total of 406 deaths recorded. Over the last three days, the Health Ministry has announced seven COVID-19 related deaths. Minister of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula, said the four new deaths were recorded in Windhoek, Onamdjokwe Mariental…

16 Feb

Changing gears over Air Namibia

ObserverUncategorisedAir Namibia, Covid-19, Namibia

CHAMWE KAIRA The liquidation of Air Namibia is a sad episode in post-independence Namibia. The national flag carrier is gone, jobs have been lost and the ripple effects will be felt across the economic and social fabric of the country for a long time. The country is already facing a depressing period with the COVID 19 pandemic and the economic recession, the Air Namibia shutdown adds to the misery. The loss of jobs at the airline adds to unemployment figures caused by companies shutting down due to the pandemic and recession. Employment figures released by the Ministry of Labour, Industrial…

16 Feb

Wecke & Voigts closes stores

ObserverObserver MoneyCOVID, Covid-19, Wecke & Voigts Group

Kandjemuni Kamuirii The Wecke & Voigts Group has announced the closure of the Wecke & Voigts in Independence Avenue and Grove Mall of Namibia. The Independence Avenue shop closes its doors after operating for 129 years since it’s foundation in 1892. “An emotional decision to shut one Windhoek’s first departmental stores was taking last year and it will be discontinued as off the end of June 2021”, said Wecke & Voigts Group Managing Director, Adrieane Jandrell. “Both shops have not been doing well for the pass years, due to various influences other than Covid-19 .Although the impact of covid-19 has…

11 Feb

Health Ministry tight lipped on AstraZeneca vaccine

ObserverObserver MoneyAstraZeneca, Ben Nangombe, Covid-19, Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS)

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) remains tightlipped on whether Namibia is still going ahead to receive the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine later this month. Or if it will opt out of the deal after it was found to be highly ineffective against a new variant of the virus, known as 501.V2, discovered in South Africa late last year. The lack of an official position by the ministry, comes after a technical team in the government department met this Monday to discuss the AstraZeneca vaccine following findings on its ineffectiveness by South African health officials. “If at…

04 Feb

No plans for ivermectin COVID-19 treatment

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula, Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS)

Staff Reporter The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) has no plans to use the ivermectin drug, stating that there is not enough evidence to its effectiveness. The drug was approved for limited use by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, and by the Zimbabwean government. “In Namibia it is not registered for human use. There is always excitement when any drug is believed to be beneficial in treating COVID-19. We are familiar with the history of hydroxychloroquine. There was hype about it and many others and Ivermectin is just joining the long list of those types of…

03 Feb

Theft tops Namibia’s crime offences…as murder and rape remain a concern

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Namibian Correctional Service

Andrew Kathindi Theft and traffic fines top criminal offenses committed countrywide since last March, the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) has revealed. Altogether 524 theft offences were committed by inmates admitted into correctional facilities from March 2020- January 2021, while 345 traffic offenses were committed during the period under review. “It is interesting to note that theft (which is classified as an economic offence) was the most common offence with 524 offenders incarcerated for that offence,” Commissioner Meunajo Tjiroze, Directorate Reintegration in the NCS told Windhoek Observer. She added, “The second most occurring offence is stock theft (which is classified as…