WINDHOEK – The office of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Namibia and the European Union last Friday donated 17 000 insecticide treated nets and 680 vaccine carriers to the Ministry of Health and Social Services.
The donation valued at (US$100 000) about N$1 million will be used to protect women and children from malaria infection and contribute to the chain system to improve quality immunisation services. The donation is part of the Programme for Accelerating the Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality in Namibia (PARMaCM) that was launched last year.
Kamwi, who cited the Namibian demographic health survey said the maternal mortality ratio and the under five mortality rate did not show much improvement, hence the donation is timely.
Dr Magda Robalo, the WHO country representative whose last working day was Friday said the donation will contribute to the strengthening of Namibia’s routine immunisation delivery system and lead to an increase in the number of children protected against preventable childhood diseases. Robalo agreed that the donation is indeed timely, “as the Ministry of Health and Social Services prepares to introduce two new vaccines against accelerating the achievement of Millennium Development Goal 4.” The Head of the Delegation of the EU to Namibia, Ambassador Raul Fuentes Milani said the nets will contribute to the reduction of malaria, while the vaccine carriers would boost immunisation efforts. “I accept this donation with a deep sense of gratitude and a renewed sense of hope. I urge the recipients to use the donation for the intended purpose,” said Kamwi.
By Alvine Kapitako