WHO Director General Dr Margaret Chan touched down on 23 April 2012 for a four-day visit to Namibia. Dr Chan’s visit coincided with World Malaria Day, 25 April which was commemorated under the theme, “Sustain Gains. Save Lives. Invest in Malaria.” The high-level mission not only focused on malaria but used the opportunity to discuss issues related to maternal and child health, health systems strengthening, human resources for health, among other priority issues.

During her visit, Dr Chan met His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Namibia, Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba; Right Honourable Prime Minister Nahas Angula; Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Theo Ben Gurirab; First Lady of the Republic of Namibia and Patron of Maternal and Child Health, Ms Penehupifo Pohamba; Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Richard Kamwi, parliamentarians, donors and representatives of the private sector. Priority issues included enhancing cross border health collaboration with neighbouring countries as well as discussions on sustainable health financing, given the global financial crisis’ impact on malaria funding.

WHO Country Representative to Namibia, Dr Magda Robalo said, “It was a momentous occasion for Namibia to host the WHO DG Dr Chan, given that Namibia is one of the countries making sterling progress to reduce malaria drastically. In 2005, 80,000 cases were reported and this figure was brought down to less than 16,000 malaria cases in 2011. Consequently, Namibia is aiming to eliminate malaria, working in concert with neighbouring countries in the context of the Elimination 8 – E8- Initiative.”

High-level Engagements

Dr Chan commended the Government of Namibia for the visionary leadership and commitment displayed to prioritizing health. “Namibia is a young country moving, in smart ways, in the right direction, especially with evidence-based strategies for improving health. You have accomplished a great deal already, especially in the past decade, and you aspire, in well-articulated, long-term plans, to do a great deal more.” Adding further, she called for improved collaboration and coordination with and among development partners, civil society, public private partnerships to come up with innovative ways to mobilize resources within the country to ensure sustainable health gains.

The President of Namibia, HE Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba, while welcoming the DG thanked WHO for its support. “The government, and indeed the people of this country, thank your organization for all the support we receive. Through the WHO's influence, we not only get WHO’s support but you also facilitate support from other organizations for Namibia and throughout the world. I can say it is because of the influence of the WHO and its sound recommendations to improve health that we are realizing the progresses noted in the health sector,” noted the Head of State.

Dr Chan exchanged observations regarding the status of maternal and child health both in Namibia and in Africa with the First Lady of the Republic of Namibia and Patron of Maternal and Child Health, Ms Penehupifo Pohamba and President of the Organization of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA). Dr Chan praised her for supporting HE, the President in launching a campaign advocating for greater male involvement in the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS and thereby accelerate progress to the MDG goals related to maternal and child mortality (MDG 4 and 5).

WHO DG Address to Parliament: Namibia’s place in global health development: Doing things the Right Way

A major highlight included an address to Parliamentarians on 24 April 2012. Dr Chan’s statement entitled, Namibia’s place in global health development: Doing things the Right Way earned Dr Chan a standing ovation from Parliamentarians. She commended the government for maintaining peace and stability and for its focus to improving the economy as well as commitment to health saying, “Namibia is a young country moving, in smart ways, in the right direction, especially with evidence-based strategies for improving health. You have the focus right. Poverty and poor health go hand-in-hand. They are the iron fist that puts the brakes on development.”

Dr Chan, urged the Government to direct more resources to maternal and child health, nutrition, and Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). “Most donor support is for infectious diseases, leaving other priority problems underfunded. Let me issue a stern warning on this issue. Monitoring shows that conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and cancers are on the rise. Get on top of these chronic NCDs as quickly as you can, especially through approaches that stress population-wide prevention. I know this is already high on your agenda. WHO staff, in the country, regional, and head offices, stand ready to support you,” said Dr Chan.

To this end, she urged the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) to strengthen its Health Information Systems (HIS) to provide the evidence necessary for improved decision-making and health financing. She stressed that without a HIS and robust disease surveillance system, it is hard to track progress, detect emerging health issues and determine how best to allocate resources. Often, without this data, emerging public health issues are diagnosed too late, resulting in many lives lost, along with duplication of resources. As a science based sector, she stressed the need for the health sector to make decisions based on strong evidence, using timely and accurate data to inform decisions, policies and actions.

DG Visits the Newest Medicine School in the World

The Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, visited the University of Namibia’s (UNAM) School of Medicine, the second school to have been visited by her in her five-year tenure in WHO. The tour, as part of her official visit, showcased the school’s facilities ranging from its anatomy laboratory, simulation rooms and library, among others.

The Founding Dean, School of Medicine, Prof. Peter Nyarango, described Dr Chan’s visit as a “remarkably rare event,” that of a medical school being toured by the WHO Director-General. Addressing a crowd of medical and pharmacy students, he drew on statistics to explain that the “DG’s visit is a special event,” adding that all concerned were “thrilled with the experience.”

Dr Chan, commending the visionary leadership and political will of the Namibian government in prioritizing health, including investing in the School of Medicine to train health-care professionals to fill the serious gaps in human resources for health, said, “This is probably the world’s newest medical school. I was very impressed with the excellent facilities for training health-care professionals to fill the human resource gaps in Namibia. I am also inspired by the vision of the Founding Dean to make the school a “centre of gravity” for training professionals and doing research, notwithstanding the huge challenges they are facing.”

Dr Chan encouraged Namibia’s next brigade of health-workers saying, “Take this opportunity; your parents, the Government of Namibia and partners believe in you, use your training and education to contribute to your society… not only in urban areas but back in the rural communities where it is greatly needed.”

The DG spoke of the relevance of dreams, the courage to pursue them with conviction and the importance of following them. “There will be successes, progress and failures too … but there are opportunities for learning and creating new knowledge. Never think you are small or unimportant as a small country! You are important. Small is beautiful. Small can be influential. Small can be powerful! As long as you have the dream and you pursue it with energy and perseverance, you can realize your dreams. You have the power to be change agents nationally and globally,” was Dr Chan’s advice to Namibia’s future cadre of health workers.

WHO’s Launches New Malaria Initiative T3: Test. Treat. Track in Namibia On the Occasion of World Malaria Day

On 24 April 2012, the eve of World Malaria Day, the DG launched WHO’s new malaria initiative entitled T3: Test. Treat. Track, urging malaria-endemic countries, donors and the global health community to substantially scale-up investments in diagnostic testing to ensure that every suspected malaria case is diagnosed and treated and strengthen surveillance for malaria. WHO has published technical guidance for all three pillars of T3: Test. Treat. Track, and released the final two documents of the package, Disease Surveillance for Malaria Control, and Disease Surveillance for Malaria Elimination, today.

Commenting on the significance of these guidelines, DG Dr Chan said, “Until countries are able to test, treat, and report every malaria case, we will never defeat this disease. We need strong and sustained political commitment from all countries where malaria is endemic, and from the global health community, to see this fight through to the end,” said Dr Margaret Chan

Dr Robert Newman, the Director of WHO’s Global Malaria Programme presented an overview of T3 Initiative and its significance within the context of malaria control and elimination. Dr Newman said: “T3. Test. Treat. Track aims to galvanize endemic countries and their partners to build on the successes of malaria control efforts over the past decade. In recent years, there has been major progress in the development of new diagnostic tools and highly effective antimalarial medicines. The challenge now is to ensure these tools get used, and that countries accurately measure their public health impact.”

The main commemoration of World Malaria Day was held in Oshakati, one of the malaria endemic areas of Namibia. The event was attended by the Governor of Oshana Region, Clemens Kashuupulwa, who welcomed the dignitaries. Governors and dignitaries from Caprivi, Kunene, Omusati and Ohangwena regions also attended the event. Additionally, the Vice-Governor of the Cuando-Cubango Province of Angola, the Deputy Minister of Veteran Affairs, Hilma Nicanor, SWAPO veteran and former Special Advisor to the Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration, Mzee Simon Kaukungwa.

Also on this occasion, WHO Country Representative to Namibia Dr Robalo handed over 6000 mosquito nets to the Ministry of Health and Social Services to boost malaria prevention interventions in the country- a complementary intervention to the three-pronged spectrum of the T-3 Initiative focused on diagnosis and treatment.

Exploring Namibia’s Health Facilities: A Closer Look

Dr. Chan’s visit included visit to health facilities in Windhoek and Oshakati to illustrate the vast differences in urban and rural health centres. During these visits she was engaged with Regional Health Management teams, health workers and paitents. In Oshakati, Dr Chan visited Oshakati Intermediate Hospital, the second largest hospital. The DG also visited Ompundja clinic where demonstrations were held to illustrate malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT) and indoor spraying (IRS) techniques.

In Dr Chan’s concluding remarks to the Namibia’s President and authorities during her debriefing meeting she noted, “I am deeply impressed... This is a country that has taken charge of its destiny. I wish you, and the health of your citizens, all the best.”

DG VISITS THE UN FAMILY

The DG made time to meet with the Heads of UN agencies and Senior staff. She commended and encouraged the UN to continue to support the Government.

DG AND AFRO DEPUTY REGIONAL DIRECTOR VISITS WHO COUNTRY OFFICE

The WHO Staff had the opportunity to meet with the DG and WHO Deputy Regional Director, Dr Moeti. On this occasion the WHO Staff Association presented gifts from Namibia as a token of gratitude for their leadership.

WHO Director General Dr Margaret Chan makes first visit to Namibia

 01 The Honourable Minister Dr Richard Kamwi And WHO Country Representative Dr Magda Robalo, Meet With WHO DG Dr Chan And Director Of WHO’s Global Malaria Programme Dr Robert Newman 02 Dr Chan Met His Excellency, President Of The Republic Of Namibia, Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba. The President Thanked Dr Chan For WHO’s Support To Namibia 03 From L To R Dr N. Forster; Dr G. Ki-zerbo; Minister Of Health, Dr R.N.Kamwi; WHO DG Dr Chan; HE The First Lady, Ms Pohamba; Dr M. Moeti; WR Dr M. Robalo And Dr R. Newman 04 Dr Chan Met With The Speaker Of The National Assembly, Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab 05 Dr Chan Met With Rt Hon. Prime Minister Mr N Angula 06 WHO DG Dr Chan Addressed Parliamentarians On 24 April 2012 07 The DG With The University Of Namibia (UNAM) Vice-Chancellor Prof L. Hangula And The Founding Dean, School Of Medicine, Prof. Peter Nyarango, Medical Students And Staff With WHO And Ministry Of Health 08 WHO DG Meets With Pharmacy Students And Discusses The Safe Use Of Medicine And Latest Research To Combat Anti-microbial Resistance 09 The DG Peers Over A Student’s Homework And Enters A Discussion On Her Studies Focusing On Congenital Birth Defects 10 On The Eve Of World Malaria Day, 24 April 2012, The DG Launched WHO’s New Malaria Initiative Entitled T3 Test. Treat. Track 11 WHO’s Global Malaria Programme, Director Dr Newman, Presented An Overview Of The T3 Initiative And Its Significance For Malaria Control And Elimination 12 Delegates Attending The Ministerial Dinner In Honour Of Dr Chan 13 To Celebrate WMD 14 WHO Representative, Dr Robalo Handed Over 6000 Mosquito Nets To The MoHSS As A Contribution To The Fight Against Malaria 15 Hundreds Gathered For Main World Malaria Day Event On 25 April 2012 At Oshakati Independence Stadium 16 17 Dr Chan And The Delegation Visited Windhoek Central Hospital Where She Is Shown The Newly Built Cardiac Unit 18 Health Workers At Oshakati Intermediate Hospital Gave A Warm Welcome To The DG And The Delegation 19 Indoor Residual Spraying Demonstration At Ompundja Clinic 20 Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test Demonstration At Ompundja Clinic 21 A Family Photo Of Dr Chan With The UN Resident Coordinator, UN Heads Of Agencies And Some Staff At The UN House 22 23 24
For more information:

WHO Country Office Namibia, UN House, 2nd Floor,
38 Stein Street, Klein Windhoek
P.O. Box 3444, Windhoek, Namibia
Tel: +264 61 255 121
Fax: + 264 61 204 6202
Email: registry [at] na.afro.who.int