Category: General

OTJIWARONGO: The Otjozondjupa Regional Council on Thursday officially opened a book of condolences for late President Hage Geingob who died in Windhoek on Sunday.

The condolences book, according to the Personal Assistant to the Otjozondjupa Region Governor, Charmaine Tjizumane is to allow the general public to send messages to the bereaved family of Geingob.

Tjizumane told Nampa on Thursday: ‘The book belongs to the Government, and it will be placed on the ground floor of the Otjozondjupa Regional Council building where it will remain open to any member of the public who wants to send a message of condolences and a word of support to the late president’s family.’

Tjizumane called on the region’s inhabitants to make use of the opportunity to convey their condolences before the book is sent to State House in Windhoek.

Source: Namibia Press Agency

Residents of Nyeri are calling for comprehensive reforms in the health sector ahead of the country’s transition to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).

While airing their views during a public participation forum on the draft Social Health Insurance Regulations 2024 Bill today, the majority of the speakers want the Government to ensure there is availability of essential drugs and quality health services under the new scheme.

They also want the new scheme to focus more on funding medical needs for all people, devoid of discrimination, to enable those at the bottom of the economic ladder to access quality health care.

‘While we welcome the rollout of the new Social Health Insurance Fund, let the scheme cater for the revival of our health care system, which is in a deplorable state. We want to get treated when we visit our health facilities, even as we pay into the new health insurance scheme. There is no need to replace the current National Health Insurance Fund if the problems we have been experiencing
are to be replicated in the new one,’ submitted Kabatha Wanjohi, who is chair of the Nyeri Disability Network.

Wanjohi has also urged the State to review a proposal meant to cater for funeral expenses, arguing that such money should be directed towards catering for critical medical needs such as drugs and screening for noncommunicable diseases.

‘We need a scheme where both the rich and the poor will not be demarcated but where there is equality in providing health services at a health facility of one’s choice. We also wish to request that the Government ensure that those living with physical challenges are treated as equals when rolling out the new scheme. Finally, let the money that is being proposed to cater for the deceased be relocated to improve the provision of services in our health facilities,’ he added.

A hearing-impaired person who identified herself as Susan requested the drafters of the new regulations to insert a clause that will cater for travel expenses for those seeking treatment abroad.

S
he argued that under the new insurance scheme, contributors who cannot access advanced treatment in the country should be catered for while flying out of the country since the majority of their families may not be in a position to foot such expenses.

Margaret Mwangi, a social worker for persons living with HIV/AIDS, called for the new scheme to cater for the cost of obtaining P3 forms for Gender Based Violence (GBV) victims, as the majority of them cannot afford the documents when seeking treatment.

She said that owing to the current hard economic times, the majority of GBV victims infected with HIV fear being ostracised any time they visit a health facility due to lack of P3 forms.

‘I work with the key population, or those living with HIV. One of the challenges these people encounter, especially those who have been subjected to Gender Based Violence is lack of access to treatment due to lack of a P3 form. Most of these people cannot afford the documents that are sold at Sh400 and would rather buy food and
take care of their children. My proposal is for the new insurance health fund to cater for such expenses in order for the victims of such vices to get assistance,’ she said.

Reverend Bildad Wangondu, a prelate at the Mweiga Anglican Church, proposed the establishment of counselling services in all public health facilities to cater for the rising cases of mental health challenges.

The cleric argued that the majority of people struggling with mental health challenges cannot get help since most public health facilities lack such services.

‘Mental health challenges are no longer new in this country, and it is time our health facilities get equipped adequately to deal with the new health scare. I am therefore proposing the new regulations to incorporate that our public hospitals be staffed with counselling psychologists and medics who can assist patients battling depression and other mental illnesses,’ he stated.

Dr. Ruth Laibon-Masha, the CEO of the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council, assured the part
icipants that their proposals will be considered when coming up with the final regulations expected to be operational late in March this year.

She also promised to escalate the challenges of accessing P3 forms for victims of GBV to the Ministry of Interior, under whose docket the matter falls.

Dr. Masha assured the public that the proposed SHIF scheme will be a game changer in the provision of quality services in the country as it will address all the challenges that have dogged the National Health Insurance Fund for years.

‘Our sole responsibility is to ensure every proposal that has been given in this forum with regard to the Social Health Insurance Fund regulations is taken into consideration. A point of note is that the new health insurance fund will take care of each and every person who will be registered, regardless of his social or economic status,’ she stated.

‘The President (Dr. William Ruto) has helped put up a robust health scheme, which he hopes will bring to an end to the many fundraising me
etings by the public in a bid to offset medical expenses for families stretched to the limit by the high cost of footing health bills for their loved ones,’ she added.

Following the lifting of a court order suspending the implementation of the Social Health Insurance Act 2023 early this year, the Ministry of Health immediately kicked off countrywide public participation workshops to help come up with the regulations that will guide the implementation of the Act.

The Ministry is seeking views on the Social Health Insurance General Regulations 2024, which will provide for the implementation of the Primary healthcare fund, the Social health insurance fund, the Emergency chronic and critical illness fund, and the Social Health Insurance Dispute Resolution Tribulation Regulations 2024.

The new regulations have put deductions for salaried employees at 2.75 per cent per month, while unsalaried households will also pay 2.75 per cent of their income per year.

The capping will, however, take into account housing ch
aracteristics, access to basic services, household composition, and other socio-economic aspects of the households under review.

The minimum amount payable to the fund will be Sh300.

Source: Kenya News Agency

OSHAKATI: The Namibian Police Force in the Oshana Region promoted a total of 42 members to the ranks of chief inspector, senior inspector and inspector, effective 01 February 2024.

NamPol’s Oshana Commander, Commissioner Naftal Lungameni Sakaria, confirmed this to Nampa on Friday, saying that five chief inspectors, six senior inspectors and 32 inspectors were promoted.

Sakaria stated out of 42 members promoted, 19 are female.

According to Sakaria, their promotion comes as recognition of their hard work.

‘These officers are now more than ever challenged to show leadership and prove the Inspector General right that they deserve the promotions and that the promotions should translate into a positive impact on crime in the region,’ he said.

He said amongst those promoted to senior level are Inspector Thomas Aiyambo, the former Head of the Community Policing Sub-Division who became a chief inspector; and Warrant Ester Ilovu from Oshakati Police Station, who joined NamPol in 1990 and now assumes the role of in
spector.

In 2023, a total of 460 police officers were promoted to various ranks in the region, with women taking up 50.3 per cent of the total.

The 229 male and 231 female officers were promoted in line with the provisions of the Police Act, Act 19 of 1990.

Source: Namibia Press Agency

KATIMA MULILO: Zambezi Region Governor, Lawrence Sampofu has hailed Namibia’s late President, Dr Hage Geingob, as a people’s person, a good manager and leader.

‘We have lost a man, a visionary leader, a leader who made sure that as he used to say, no one is left out. He was a people’s man, a man who had people’s problems at heart, so that all of us we move in one direction. We have lost a man and a father, who made sure that everybody does not go to bed hungry. So we have lost a giant in the struggle of economic achievement,’ Sampofu maintained.

Geingob who died at the Lady Pohamba Private Hospital in Windhoek on Sunday around midnight where he was receiving medical treatment after returning from the United States was described as one of the first pillars of the Swapo leaders from the 1960s to date.

Sampofu maintained that when Swapo was being formed, Geingob represented Swapo in the United States of America (USA) as head of students there, and 1976 Geingob was appointed as the Director of the United Natio
ns Institute for Namibia in Lusaka, Zambia. He noted that the late Head of State was a leader who paved the way for Namibia’s independence, one who organised and mobilised the Namibian masses, to join the liberations struggles to attain Namibia’s independence.

‘After the 1989 elections, he chaired the Constituent Assembly to write the first Constitution that we have today. A very important Constitution which is rated as one of the best in the world,’ Sampofu stated.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

National Youth Services recruitment has taken place in Samburu County, where 19 men and six women were enlisted.

The Recruitment Officer Mathew Lolngojine told KNA in Maralal’s Kenyatta Stadium that the recruitment exercise was conducted without any hitch, adding that National Youth Services will now help young people join the police and Kenya Defence forces.

Those who have been recruited in the service were required to possess a D and above in KCSE.

Lolngojine urged youth to join this service in large numbers, adding that President Dr. William Samoei Ruto has since announced that 80 percent of NYS trainees will be recruited to join the police and military forces in the country.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Nakuru County in collaboration with World Vision has held a farmer market linkages exhibition, where farmers got an opportunity to meet various stakeholders in the agricultural sector in Visoi Ward, Rongai Sub-County.

The exhibition also provided one-stop extension services for farmers on environmental conservation, sustainable farming practices, emerging innovations, and technology.

The County Agriculture Chief Officer Newton Mwaura appreciated the collaboration with World Vision, noting that the administration is committed to fostering the relationship with stakeholders to improve farmers’ livelihoods across the County.

Mwaura said the County is committed to ensuring the reduced cost of production through the last mile delivery of fertilizer program in the County, by ensuring that all farmers are registered, and encouraged to prepare their farms on time for planting.

He noted that strengthening market linkages was vital for reducing post-harvest losses, creating a more equitable distribution of power wi
thin the supply chain, encouraging investment, and advancing agricultural practices.

Additionally, he said strengthening market linkages was not only beneficial to all stakeholders across the food supply chain, but it ensures that farmers are aware of their customers’ needs, and plant what sells faster than the current presumptions.

Apart from that, the Chief Officer said over 75 percent of Kenyans rely on agriculture to make a living, and most of these are smallholder farmers, who cultivate small parcels of land, are unsupported in production, and are isolated from the markets. Hence, the a need to link them to markets and enable them to make profits.

The farmers’ leader at the Rongai Sub County Mrs. Agnes Rono, decried the higher cost of inputs than the prices that the farmers receive from the sale of their produce, which often equals, or is less than their cost of production.

She urged all Counties to support farmers to get quick, and reliable markets, and if possible, agree on prices even before plant
ing for the linked markets, otherwise, farmers might continuously stay in a trapped cycle of poverty due to a lack of fair markets.

Source: Kenya News Agency