Namibia strengthening public health emergency preparedness
Namibia is strengthening its capacity to respond to public health emergencies through enhanced leadership, coordination and preparedness. This is according to speakers at the opening of the executive leadership training on public health emergency management and public health emergency operations centres in Windhoek on Tuesday. “Public health emergencies remain a growing threat across Africa, requiring […] The post Namibia strengthening public health emergency preparedness appeared first on The Namibian.
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Namibia is strengthening its capacity to respond to public health emergencies through enhanced leadership, coordination and preparedness.
This is according to speakers at the opening of the executive leadership training on public health emergency management and public health emergency operations centres in Windhoek on Tuesday.
“Public health emergencies remain a growing threat across Africa, requiring countries to invest in preparedness and coordinated response mechanisms,” Ministry of Health and Social Services deputy executive director Taimi Amaambo says.
She notes that Namibia has experienced a range of emergencies including droughts, floods, wildfires and disease outbreaks such as anthrax, hepatitis E, measles, covid-19, malaria, cholera, mpox and polio, which have had significant health, social and economic impacts.
Amaambo says the country has established policy frameworks, including the national action plan for health security, the one health strategy and the multi-hazard contingency plan, to strengthen resilience against such threats.
She, however, stresses that policies alone are insufficient, saying that Namibia is committed to establishing and operationalising a functional public health emergency operations centre to improve preparedness, coordination and response during health crises.
She also highlights a recent cross-border anthrax simulation exercise between Namibia and Zambia, describing it as a practical demonstration of the importance of collaboration under the One Health approach, which recognises the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health.
On her part, the director for disaster risk management, Helen Likando, says Namibia continues to face increasingly complex risks, including disease outbreaks, climate-induced disasters, droughts, floods and food insecurity.
She says recent emergencies have reinforced the need for strong leadership, effective coordination and institutional readiness across the government.
According to Likando, public health emergency operations centres are critical platforms that enhance situational awareness, support decision-making and enable rapid responses during emergencies.
“The effectiveness of any emergency response is largely determined by the preparedness of leaders to anticipate risks, coordinate institutions, communicate effectively and make informed decisions during times of uncertainty,” she says.
The four-day training brings together senior government officials and partners to strengthen leadership capacity and advance Namibia’s efforts to improve public health emergency management and disaster preparedness.
– Nampa
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