Efforts to address Hepatitis E outbreak renewed
OPUWO, 18 AUG (NAMPA) – The Ministry of Health and Social Services, Embassy of Japan and World Health Organisation have renewed efforts to contain the Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) which was declared as an outbreak in December 2017.
To this end, the ‘Improving the national preparedness and response capacity to contain infectious disease outbreaks and other drought-related public health events in Namibia’ project was launched by the ministry, the embassy and WHO at the COVID-19 Communication Centre in Windhoek.
A statement availed to Nampa on Tuesday said the project, worth nearly N.dollars 4 million, will be implemented in the Khomas, Erongo, Omusati, Ohangwena, Kavango East and Kavango West regions by the WHO in partnership with the ministry for a duration of 12 months.
“The funding will strengthen the national and regional capacity, which are essential components required to implement effective response intervention,” the statement said.
It further noted that as of 28 June 2020, over 7 000 HEV cases have been reported, with the majority still from informal settlements in Windhoek (62 per cent) and Swakopmund (21 per cent). Sixty-five deaths have been reported so far.
During the launch, Minister of Health Dr Kalumbi Shangula stated that over the past three years, the ministry has been dealing with various disease outbreaks, making reference to the ongoing COVID-19 alongside HEV, as well as Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever.
“When we are faced with a pandemic of this magnitude, the workforce, financial, infrastructure and other resources can feel the strain and previous gains can easily be lost in the process,” he said.
The support will also go towards addressing drought-related health events, including severe acute malnutrition in response to the protracted drought of 2018/19.
Records from MoHSS reveal that for 11 months, from April 2018 to March 2019, 50 per cent and 11 per cent of the total children weighed were moderately and severely malnourished respectively.
Moreover, of the total 2 860 children admitted at health facilities due to severe acute malnutrition, 10 per cent died over the same period.
Also speaking at the launch was WHO’s Namibia Representative Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses, who emphasised the need to sustain investment in essential health services while attending to the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his speech, Japan’s Ambassador to Namibia, Hideaki Harada stated that the government of Japan decided to support the Namibian government’s leadership and efforts in partnership with WHO, as a trusted partner of Namibia and Japan in health, in order to ensure that all members of the community can live a fulfilling life through strengthening the health system.