🇳🇦NamibiaSouthern Africa
Prime minister Ngurare dismisses claims of two-tier healthcare system with VIP wards
via The Namibian4 min read
Prime minister Elijah Ngurare has rejected claims that proposed 'VIP wards' in public hospitals would create an unequal healthcare system in Namibia. Responding to concerns in the National Assembly, Ngurare stated that reports of a VIP ward for public office-bearers at Windhoek Central Hospital have been "dramatised" and misrepresented. He clarified that the government's aim is to enhance public health services for all Namibians, aligning with president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s directive to improve healthcare standards nationwide. Ngurare emphasized that there is no intention to offer preferential treatment, stating, "There will be no different classes of services being provided. That is not the intention. There is no life that is secondary to another." Similar upgrades are planned for Katutura State Hospital and other public hospitals in Rundu and Swakopmund to ensure consistent quality of care. Opposition lawmakers, including Swanu of Namibia parliamentarian Evilastus Kaaronda and Vetaruhe Kandorozu of the National Unity Democratic Organisation, questioned the perceived inequality, especially following a presidential directive for public officials to use public hospitals. They expressed concerns that the initiative might reinforce existing disparities, with Kandorozu noting that while some hospital sections receive top-tier upgrades, many public facilities remain under-resourced.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
A recent study conducted in Uganda has shown that a catnip-based lotion is as effective as diethyltoluamide Deet in repelling mosquitoes. The research, presented at the Society for Experimental Biology conference in Florence, found that mosquitoes were less likely to land on individuals using lotions containing catnip. Specifically, a 6% catnip oil solution performed comparably to Deet, while a 2% concentration was only slightly less effective. This development is significant for malaria prevention, especially in African countries where the disease infects approximately 282 million people annually and caused 610,000 deaths in 2024, predominantly among young children. Concerns about rising insecticide resistance and the high cost of commercial repellents like Deet for rural Ugandan subsistence farmers highlight the need for affordable, locally produced alternatives. The catnip lotion, which can be made by community enterprises, has been distributed for free through grant funding, with plans to increase production and sales to create a sustainable income for workers. Swai Kyeba, a research entomologist from the Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania, emphasized the importance of new, accessible vector-control tools in the fight against malaria.
Must ReadThis year's Red List of endangered species highlights how human activities are overwhelming the ingenious survival strategies of various species. Deep-sea mining, for instance, threatens two-thirds of mollusc species found exclusively on hydrothermal vents, with over 200 species living in these extreme environments. One snail, Lirapex felix, is critically endangered due to mining in the Indian Ocean, though some vent species are protected in marine areas. The desert rain frog is also at risk from diamond mining and energy infrastructure expansion in Southern Africa, compounded by demand from the exotic pet trade. However, conservation efforts can succeed, as demonstrated by the numbat, an Australian marsupial. Its population has rebounded from 300 in the late 1970s to between 2,000 and 3,000 today, moving from endangered to near threatened, thanks to protection from feral cats and foxes, captive breeding, and translocations. Despite this success, five other Australian marsupials have been confirmed extinct, likely due to feral predators. The International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN, which produces the Red List, notes that while life adapts to hostile habitats, increasing pressures threaten even the most resilient creatures. The IUCN advocates for conservation, having voted for a moratorium on deep-sea mining in 2021. The Red List currently includes 175,909 species, with 49,505 threatened with extinction.
Baronice Hans, former managing director of Bank Windhoek, has been appointed chief executive officer of Lady Pohamba Private Hospital, effective September 1. Hans confirmed her new role on Wednesday. She was the first woman to lead Bank Windhoek, serving as managing director for nine years, making her the longest-serving managing director in the bank's 42-year history. During her leadership, Bank Windhoek issued southern Africa’s first green bond, listed on Nasdaq, and achieved a profit after tax of N$1 billion in 2023. Hans, a chartered accountant, has a background in finance and strategy. After leaving Bank Windhoek, she joined Burning Bush Strategy Consultants, providing strategic advisory services. She now takes the helm at Lady Pohamba Private Hospital as it continues to grow within Namibia’s healthcare sector.