Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS)

25 Nov

Health Minister refutes claims of less Covid-19 infections during the heat season

ObserverObserver MoneyDr Kalumbi Shangula, Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS)

Tujoromajo Kasuto Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Dr Kalumbi Shangula, says the myth that has been “running around” that Covid-19 goes away during the hot season, is not accurate and true, maintaining that the intensity of transmission is driven by human behaviour and interaction. He points out that Namibia experienced three Covid-19 waves so far. The first wave peaked at 316 new infections in a single day on the 13 August 2020, a period were Namibia was already experiencing high daily temperatures. In addition he notes the second wave of Covid-19 peaked on the 13 December 2020 when…

20 Jul

Mixing COVID vaccines a no go for Namibia

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

Tujoromajo Kasuto Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Kalumbi Shangula, says the country does not have a need for mixing Covid-19 vaccines. “Currently we have one vaccine and give only what we have, we continue doing as we have been doing up to now,” states Shangula further questioning “who said that mixing is more efficient, where is the medical evidence that mixing is much more powerful than taking the one vaccine.” According to media reports, countries in Europe, namely Spain, Germany, Canada and the United Kingdom, have implemented a mixed dosage approach, where people get the first dose of…

14 Jul

Shangula shrugs off vaccine stock concerns

ObserverObserver MoneyAstraZeneca, Covid-19, Kalumbi Shangula, Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), president Hage Geingob

Andrew Kathindi Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Kalumbi Shangula, says the depletion of vaccination stocks in the country means that more people are protected. This is the minister’s response to concerns about the dwindling stock of vaccines in the country amidst a third wave that has ravaged the country, and if Government couldn’t have prepared better for it. “It means that the vaccine has been used up by people. In other words, many people have been vaccinated. Which means more people have got protection, that’s why they have used up the vaccine. Which in fact tells us there…

09 Jul

Namibia receives medical equipment donation from German government

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Delta variant, German Ministry of Defence, Kalumbi Shangula, Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS)

Tujoromajo Kasuto Namibia received a batch of medical equipment as a donation to combat Covid-19 from the German Ministry of Defence at the Hosea Kutako International Airport today (Thursday). The donation is from the European Union (EU) Civic Protection Mechanism and consists of 300,000 gowns, 60 care bed, 40,000 Antigen rapid test, 20,000 safety goggles, and 500,000 FFP2 masks. On receiving it, Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Kalumbi Shangula, says, “standing on the tarmac of the Hosea Kutako International Airport and witnessing the arrival of the majestic Antonov AN-225, the world’s largest aircraft ever built, carrying on board…

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…

27 Nov

Increase in COVID-19 cases worries health ministry

ObserverObserver MoneyKalumbi Shangula, Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS)

Clifton Movirongo The Ministry of Health said it is worried about a resurgence of COVID-19 cases after the country recorded its highest number on Thursday, 26 November in months, with 149 new positive cases recorded in Namibia. This comes on the day after the local and regional elections where voters stood in long lines with no social distancing. The Khomas region according to Ministry of Health figures, recorded the highest number with 105 cases recorded in Windhoek out of 149 cases from 1,327 results received from the testing laboratories countrywide. Last week, the Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS),…