Kalumbi Shangula – Page 3 – Windhoek Observer

30 Apr

Second COVID-19 variant discovered

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Health and Social Services (MoHSS) Minsiter, Kalumbi Shangula, Variant of Concern (VOC)

Andrew Kathindi Health and Social Services (MoHSS) Minsiter, Kalumbi Shangula, has revealed that Namibia has uncovered another COVID-19 variant. According to the Minister, the discovery is of a United Kingdom (UK) variant of the virus.“The Variant of Concern, B.1.1.7 initially discovered in the UK was detected in three of the samples analysed.”In March this year, the Minister confirmed the presence of the 501.V2, a variant that was discovered in South Africa last year. The Minister in December last year suspected the presence of the variant in the country; however, his fears were only confirmed when delayed samples sent to South…

29 Apr

Namibia approves Sputnik V vaccine imports

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Kalumbi Shangula, Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Sputnik V

Rose-Mary Haufiku Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Kalumbi Shangula, has confirmed that Namibia is moving ahead to import the Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. Although the minister was not clear as to how many doses the country will be importing, he confirmed that the ministry was moving ahead with the procurement which is supposed to aid the existing COVID-19 vaccines in the country. Shangula said he can’t exactly say when the vaccines will be imported into the country since “it’s a procurement process, so it’s still ongoing. We haven’t seen any deliveries.” On how many doses of Sputnik…

17 Apr

COVID-19 deaths near 600 mark

ObserverUncategorisedCOVID-19 deaths near 600 mark, Kalumbi Shangula

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Namibia’s COVID-19 death toll continues to grow at an exponential rate, with the country recording up to 125 deaths in one month. Since the outbreak of the virus, the country’s COVID-19 deaths are close to breaching the 600 mark, with a total of 599 deaths recorded to date, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS).“The Health Ministry has announced three new deaths in Windhoek district,” Minister of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula said. According to Shangula, 145 new Covid-19 cases have been confirmed from the 1253 results received from the…

30 Mar

Vaccine arrival delayed again

ObserverObserver MoneyCOVAX Facility, Covid-19, Kalumbi Shangula, MoHSS Minister

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has bemoaned the delay in the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines which it purchased through the COVAX Facility. This comes as the latest communication from the Facility coordinators, which came last week, stated that the vaccines will only arrive in the country in the next three weeks. This is the third time that the vaccine arrival date has been announced, after an email in January from the COVAX Facility, had informed MoHSS Minister, Kalumbi Shangula, that the vaccine would arrive in mid or end of February, and later shifted to…

20 Mar

COVID-19 jab not compulsory – Shangula …. Essential services workers react

ObserverUncategorisedCOVID-19 jab not compulsory, Kalumbi Shangula, Mahongora Kavihuha, Sinopharm vaccine, Werner Januarie

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri, Maria Hamutenya and Andrew Kathindi MINISTER of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula says no one, including members of the uniformed forces, will be forced to take the COVID-19 vaccine. This comes as the country on Friday began its roll-out of the Chinese manufactured Sinopharm vaccine, which arrived in Namibia earlier this week. “People who are live in closed settings like people in prisons, police cells, and school hostels are the ones we want to target in phase-one, but eventually everyone will have a chance to be vaccinated. The vaccine is voluntary. If you don’t want it, no…

18 Mar

Shangula rules out relaxing Covid-19 regulations

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Health and Social Services Minister, Kalumbi Shangula

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Health and Social Services Minister, Kalumbi Shangula, says Namibia will not be relaxing its COVID-19 regulations despite the arrival of the country’s first batch of vaccines and the beginning of its inoculation role out schedule for Friday. “No, it will not be relaxed. We will still continue to have public health measures because we have not yet vaccinated anybody, we need to vaccinate about 80 percent of the population and then we will see whether they are fully protected, it will be a combination, just like we have the mask, social distance and you get vaccination,” he said.…

13 Mar

AstraZeneca faces mounting bans

ObserverUncategorisedAstraZeneca, Kalumbi Shangula

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri and Rose-Mary Haufiku Controversy continues to dog the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine as several European countries suspending the use of AstraZeneca vaccine. Despite Namibian Minister of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula, remaining adamant that Government will go ahead with the procurement of the controversial vaccine through the COVAX facility. European media have been carrying reports that the AstraZeneca vaccine caused thromboembolic events or blood clots among some individuals who received the jab. Three of 17 European countries that have received the AstraZeneca vaccine (Denmark, Norway and Iceland) have, as a precautionary measure, stopped administering the vaccine while Italy,…

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…

27 Jan

Healthcare workers threaten strike

ObserverObserver MoneyHealth Minister, Kalumbi Shangula, PSUN Secretary General, Ujama Kaahangoro

Andrew Kathindi The Public Service Union of Namibia (PSUN) has threatened to rally healthcare workers this Thursday (28 January) to leave their work until the matter of risk allowance is resolved. Health minister, Kalumbi Shangula, earlier this month revealed that over 1300 healthcare workers have been infected by COVID-19, with six deaths from the sector. “Healthcare workers were also forced to perform duties without the necessary personal protective equipment (PPEs). If the government is not recognising them, why should they have to avail themselves and to risk their lives any further? And that is what we are going to do.…

21 Jan

COVID deaths surpass 300

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Kalumbi Shangula

Staff Writer Namibia has now surpassed the 300 mark for COVID-19 related deaths after five more people succumbed to the virus. Health and Social Services (MOHSS) minister, Kalumbi Shangula, announced the latest figures on Wednesday. The five fatalities were recorded in Windhoek, Oshakati, Otjiwarongo and Walvis Bay, becoming the second highest number of deaths ever recorded in the country in a single day since the outbreak of COVID-19 last year. The increase in fatalities, comes as positive cases continue to spike, with 258 new COVID-19 confirmed cases from 1 793 results received from the laboratories in the last 24 hours.…