Windhoek
The Social Security Commission (SSC) has put aside N$40 million for the construction of maternal shelters, SSC CEO Milka Mungunda announced yesterday.
She said the maternal shelters would be constructed at Outapi, Katima Mulilo, Rundu and a health centre at Aussenker.
An extra N$3 million will be availed to state-of-the art medical equipment such as cardiography and ultrasound machines.
“As part of our corporate social investment and the broader social protection, SSC will embark on an intervention that can ease the lives of many Namibian women who are squatting under trees in many parts of the country days before delivery,” Mungunda said.
Furthermore, she said the SSC has embarked on a universal health coverage (UHC) project.
She said the implementation of the project commenced early 2014 with the establishment of the Universal Health Coverage Advisory Committee of Namibia (UHCAN).
“UHCAN is constituted by different stakeholders including relevant government ministries, parastatals, private sector, civil society, academia and development partners,” she said.
According to her, the SSC has been spearheading the activities of UHCAN since 2014 as per the delegated mandate by the Ministry of Health and Social Services.
“The work plan activities include a review of the health insurance context in Namibia and which other countries experience with regard to UHC and the identification of countries for study tours to draw lessons for Namibia,” she said.
Mungunda said the feasibility study will determine the targeted population to be covered, benefit packages, financing of the scheme and institutional arrangements required for the country to achieve universal coverage in a reasonable period of time.
She said the goal of UCHAN is to ensure that all people obtain the health services they need without suffering financial hardship when paying for them.
“This requires a strong, efficient, well-run health system, a system for financing health services, access to essential medicines and technologies and sufficient capacity of well-trained, motivated health workers,” she said.
Moreover, Mungunda also announced the SSC has approved the implementation of the National Pension Fund (NPF) to implement in the current financial year as per the Harambee Prosperity Plan.
Mungunda said good governance in social security schemes is critical for the viability and sustainability of schemes such as the NPF.
“It is equally critical for building trust in SSC,” she added.