Terence Mukasa
The latest shipment of clinical consumables and medical equipment donated by the Welsh government to Namibia arrived in the country recently.
The multi-million dollar donation includes portable transport ventilator machines, thousands of Covid-19 lateral flow antibody test kits, bottles of hand liquid sanitisers, disposable aprons, gowns, facemasks, hand gloves, face visors, goggles and body bags amongst others.
The 14 large containers with the equipment were officially received by the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation (MIRCO) and handed over to the Ministry of Health and Social Services in Windhoek on 9 February 2022. The donation strengthens the Namibian government’s efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19, by providing much-needed personal protection equipment, ventilators, training and consumables.
So far, the Namibian government has administered more than 700 000 doses of vaccines.
The donation from Wales was made possible through the Welsh and Africa Grant Scheme, and the Phoenix Project, a longstanding partnership between the University of Namibia and Cardiff University.
British High Commissioner, Charles Moore praised the Phoenix Project, listing a number of its other accomplishments with Unam, such as research collaboration, communication, health promotion campaigns and environmental sustainability.
Moore, accompanied by the High Commissioner of Namibia to the United Kingdom Linda Scott, handed over the donation on behalf of the Welsh government.
“This donation represents a gift from the government and the people of Wales who have developed a strong relationship with Namibia over the past decade,” remarked Moore.
Praise was also extended in absentia to professor Judith Hall from Wales, who leads the Phoenix Project.
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Deputy Prime Minister of Namibia, and minister of international relations accepted the donation on behalf of the Namibian government.
“International solidarity has been crucial in overcoming this pandemic,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.
A key Namibian figure in the fight against Covid-19, Kalumbi Shangula, Minister of Health and Social Services, said that it is yet another demonstration of true partnership and genuine solidarity in the fight against this deadly pandemic. He further cautioned that the pandemic is not yet over and that much work lies ahead, and urged every Namibian to heed the health regulations.
Unam vice chancellor, co-leader of the Phoenix Project and founder of UNAM Cares, professor Kenneth Matengu said, “The donation is a result of a nine-year long partnership between the Unam, the Phoenix Project of Cardiff University and the Welsh government. This partnership around Covid-19 has funded several projects to the tune of N$284 000 000.”
The Welsh government’s Covid-19 support through the Phoenix Project has to date funded Unam’s corporate social responsibility project, UNAM Cares, Covid-19 Vaccination Health Promotion Campaign as well as a countrywide assessment of medical oxygen needs. This assessment resulted in the sponsorship of four bulk liquid oxygen tanks in Grootfontein, Gobabis, Katima Mulilo and Nkurenkuru.
Furthermore, the Phoenix Project, together with UNAM Cares, under the Oxygen Namibia Grant by the Welsh government, trained 229 nurses from the ministry of health in oxygen therapy and ventilation case management in the Khomas, Zambezi, Kavango, Oshikoto, //Kharas, Omaheke and Hardap regions from September 2021 until 10 February 2022.
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