WINDHOEK – Former colleagues of the new minister of health, Dr Bernard Haufiku, are confident his expertise, as a medical doctor, would serve him well in his new portfolio.
Kelly Nghixulifwa, the president of the Namibia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Control Board, said he has known Haufiku for 20 years.
Haufiku was a long-serving member of the Namibia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Control Board until last year. “We are very excited about him being the minister of health,” Nghixulifwa told New Era on Sunday.
The boxing chief said Haufiku is a pleasant, decent, truthful and sincere “guy”, who is also very knowledgeable on his subject (health).
He said he does not see why Haufiku would not do well in his new portfolio considering his background in health.
Nghixulifwa added that Haufiku is well acquainted with Namibia’s political sphere, as in his youthful years he “was a very active Nanso (Namibia National Student Organisation) member and he is a member of the Swapo think tank”.
Haufiku made a presentation on health at the Swapo policy conference. “When he puts his mind to something, it’s very difficult to easily change his mind,” said Nghixulifwa, who also described Haufiku as a gentleman.
Dr Ndapewa Hamunime, a medical doctor who is also the Chief Medical Officer of HIV/AIDS in the Directorate of Special Programmes in the Ministry of Health and Social Services described the new minister as a very hard-working man.
“He is a very knowledgeable and very reliable man,” said Hamunime. She further said Haufiku is committed and dedicated to the fight against HIV/AIDS in the country.
“He has attended many international and national conferences on HIV/AIDS to learn more about the management and treatment of HIV,” she said.
She added that the new Minister of Health and Social Services has a soft spot for less privileged people.
During his practice as a private doctor, Dr Haufiku extended his services widely to the public as social responsibility. Hamunime recalled a particular time when many people were cut off from clinics and health facilities because of the floods.
“I found Dr Haufiku in one of the clinics in Ongha (Ohangwena Region) where he volunteered to treat people who were affected by the floods and could not reach the clinics and hospital to access health services,” said Hamunime. “He is a dedicated person. Whenever there is a call or challenge (in health) he responds,” added Hamunime.
“I’m sure he will bring with him the knowledge [he] has acquired over the years to take the Ministry of Health and Social Services to greater heights. I have confidence in him and I’m sure that he will be able to lead the team (ministry of health) for the health of all Namibians,” said Hamunime.
She noted that the health sector is not an easy one to manage. “There are so many challenges and just when you think you have achieved something another challenge comes up,” said Hamunime.
The known challenges in the health sector include HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, noted Hamunime.
“It will need our effort,” she added, saying it is important that the private and public sector join forces to fight the challenges that bedevil the health sector. “The public sector is the custodian of health but the private sector has a role to play to complement the efforts of the public sector,” said Hamunime.