Chelva Wells 

Cabinet has approved the Universal Health Coverage Policy for Namibia, information minister Emma Theofelus announced on Thursday. 

The policy aims to ensure access to healthcare without financial burden. 

Cabinet directed the ministries of Works and Transport, Health and Social Services, Finance and Public Enterprises as well as the National Planning Commission to develop implementation and funding modalities in this regard. 

In addition, they should submit a report for endorsement. 

The Inter-Ministerial Committee may co-opt other relevant stakeholders, Theofelus said. 

The decision was made during the second Cabinet decision-making meeting of the year, where several policy, governance and financial matters were addressed. 

She said that Cabinet reviewed the outcomes of the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in October 2024 in Samoa. 

The Office of the President and the ministries of International Relations and Cooperation; Works and Transport; Rural and Urban Development; Sports, Youth and National Service; Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare as well as Finance and Public Enterprises were directed to take action in their respective areas of responsibility, she said. 

Theofelus added that a cooperation framework between the Namibian Police Force and the Federal Police of Brazil was also approved. 

“The agreement focuses on preventing and combating transnational crimes, including human trafficking, drug trafficking, economic crimes, cybercrimes, intellectual property infringement, security threats, terrorism and other forms of transnational crime,” she said. 

Cabinet further approved Namibia’s hosting of the Workshop on Prison Infrastructure in Africa in June 2025. 

The event, in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross, will facilitate discussions on prison planning and management as well as the development of new tools and policies. 

After reviewing financial reports, the minister noted that Cabinet approved the 2022/2023 Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Central Procurement Board of Namibia. 

It was submitted by the Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, and authorised by the Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises to table the report in the National Assembly. 

The annual reports and financial statements for the Namibia Ports Authority and Namibia Post and Telecom Holdings for the 2023/2024 and 2022/2024 periods, respectively, were approved for tabling, Theofelus added. 

“These decisions reflect government’s commitment to strengthening policies, enhancing cooperation and ensuring transparency in governance,” she said.