WINDHOEK – The Namibian government on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ethiopia whereby both parties agreed on the possibility for Ethiopia to second health professionals, experts and health professionals to Namibia.
In terms of the MoU Ethiopia has committed to continue providing scholarships to a specified number of Namibian students to go and study in that country. The two countries further agreed on a training programme for Namibian health professionals, including doctors, registered nurses, health technicians, pharmacists, paramedics and others. During the signing ceremony the Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Richard Kamwi, once again reiterated that Namibia faces a critical shortage of health professionals and stressed the fact that the ministry finds it difficult to attract and retain health professionals in rural areas.
Kamwi explained that other challenges facing Namibia include a burden of communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB), and diarrhoea, especially among children.
“This is in addition to the emerging non-communicable diseases of lifestyle such as cancer, both prostate, breast and cervical, maternal mortality and malnutrition,” said the health minister. He said government has been gradually shifting resources to the disadvantaged regions, focusing on preventive and basic curative services provided by health centres, clinics, outreach services and community-based health care through the health extension programme. He however stressed that although both the public and private health sectors are providing health services in the country, there is need to strengthen their collaboration.
Early in March Cabinet decided that the health extension programme should be introduced in all regions. Shortly thereafter the Ethiopian ministry of health assisted Namibia to pilot the health extension workers programme in the Kunene Region through which about 40 Namibians were trained. The health extension programme was then rolled out to the Zambezi, Kavango East and Kavango West, Ohangwena, Omusati and Kunene regions where a total of 565 health extension workers are currently undergoing training. The health extension workers act as a bridge between the community and public health care clinics.
They also promote health and educate people on how to prevent diseases in communities, as well as promote immunisation and carry out maternal and child health assessments. Moreover, the Ethiopian Minister of Health, Dr Kesetebirhan Admasu revealed that his country made a significant effort to improve health delivery. Admasu said Ethiopia has already achieved targets on combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases and also reduced its under-five mortality rate by two thirds between 1990 and 2012, thereby meeting the target set under the Millennium Development Goals.
“Achieving this target three years ahead of time is an indication of the realisation of the ambitious targets of the government’s growth and transformation plan. Ethiopia has also undertaken serious measures to reduce maternal mortality through the provision of skilled birth attendance and family planning services at all levels of the health care system.”
Dr Admasu said through concerted efforts and cooperation with “our bilateral and multilateral partners we shall continue to make a significant effort so that we will achieve all the Millennium Development Goals, particularly those related to health service delivery.” He explained that it is because of such success stories and remarkable achievements of the country in the field of health that Ethiopia was chosen and successfully hosted the 3rd International Conference on Family Planning under the theme – ‘Full Access and Full Choice’ during November 12-15 this year in Addis Ababa.
By Albertina Nakale