20210630_Statement by Dr Kalumbi Shangula


20210630_Statement by Dr Kalumbi Shangula



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REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH ANS SOCIAL SERVICES
STATEMENT BY DR. KALUMBI SHANGULA, MP, MINISTER OF HEALTH AND
SOCIAL SERVICES AT THE OCASSION OF THE 30th COVID-19 PUBLIC
BRIEFING.
30 JUNE 2021
STATE HOUSE
WINDHOEK
*Check Against Delivery.

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Your Excellency, Dr. Hage G. Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia
Your Excellency, Dr. Nangolo Mbumba, Vice President
Honourable Ministers
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen!
1. Our country is facing an unprecedent emergency, arising out of the COVID-19
pandemic. The 3rd wave we are experiencing currently has impacted all corners of our
country with devastating ferocity. New infections have increased exponentially, so has
the number of hospitalizations and deaths. There is hardly a family or a community in
this country that has not been touched. We have all either buried a loved one whose
death is attributed to COVID-19, or we know a friend or a neighbour who has. Our
country is literally in a existential struggle again this pandemic. We are in a fight for
our very lives.
2. In recent weeks, health facilites in the public and private sector around the country have
recorded the highest number of patients admission in our country history. This has
exerted tremendous pressure on the health system. Our mortuaries have reached
maximum capacity. There are funerals taking place in different communities on a daily
basis. Our health care workers are working long hours taking care of the patients. This
is true for all frontline workers in the national effort to combat COVID-19. I salute
them for their commitment to duty and selfeless patriotic service.
3. The nurses, the doctors, the porters, the emergency care practitioners, the social
workers, the pharmacists and other healthcare workers put their own lives on the line
everyday to fight for our nation, to save lives and to help heal the sick. Their efforts
are evident in the number of patients who are treated in our health facilities across the
country and are able to return home healthy after having recovered. It is the
responsibility of each and all of us to protect this valuable resource for our country
because without them, there is no delivery of health care services.
4. The measures announced by His Excellncy, the President here today are designed to
help Namibia break the chain of transmission and the occurrence of new infections.
The overall goal is to protect lives and preserve livelihoods in the face of this
devastating wave. We have a non immune population, highly susceptible to Covid-19
infection which is highly transimisible. It is very difficult to control because people
serve both as a vector and a host of the infective agent.
5. In addition to these measures, Government has taken decisive action to strengthen and
expand the capacity of our health system to withstand the impact of the pandemic.
These include: the construction and repurposing of treatment and isolation facilities for
those who fall ill due to corona virus infections; increasing capacity to supply much
needed oxygen for patients, procurement of medical equipment such as ventilators,
hospital beds, and clinical supplies, as well as the procurement of the pharmaceuticals
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that are used in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. The Government is also pursuing
efforts to secure COVID-19 vaccine doses for the country. Towards this end, a
warchest of N$484 million has been set aside to procure vaccines for Namibia. While
the doses received during March and April, have largely been used up, deliveries of
more doses are expected in the country starting during the month of July and also in
August, 2021.
6. The Government is seriously concered about the delays that have hampered to delivery
of the vaccines to the country. We will spare no effort in our engagement with the
potential suppliers of vaccines in order to vaccinate more people in Namibia. Our
systems supported by the existing Expanded Programme on Immuzation are realing to
go and once more supplies arrive in the country, the vaccines will deployed speedily.
In the meantime, vaccination is continuing at sites around the country where doses are
still available. I urge our people to avail themselves for vaccination in order to protect
themselves, their families and their communities. This is an aspect critical in our
strategy to defeat the pandemic.
7. I now turn to outlining the details of the COVID-19 public health regulations that will
come in force at midnight tonight, 30 June 2021, following the expiry of the current
dispensation, which came into force on 16 June 2021. The new measures will, as the
President stated, be in force for 14 days. They will be reviewed regularly to determine
their effectiveness in addressing the situation facing our country at the this time. As
approved by Cabinet, the measures are designed to curtail the further spread of the
COVID-19 after 30 June 2021. I will confine myself to those measures that need further
elucidation and articulation.
8. Restriction of movement
8..1. Restriction of movement applies to the whole country. Permits to enter into or leave
the restricted zone may be issued by Persons/Officials/Officers as authorised by the
Minister of Health and Social Services in terms of the Public and Environmental Health
Act, 2015. The following officers are authorised to issue travel permits.
• Police Officer (Station Commander) or higher rank, or as designated by
Inspector General of the Namibian Police,
• Executive Directors or Regional Directors or Staff Member as designated by the
Executive Directors or Regional Directors of the following Offices, Ministries
or Agencies, that is Ministries of: Agriculture, Water and Land Reform;
Defence and Veterans Affairs; Education, Arts and Culture; Environment,
Tourism and Forestry; Health and Social Services; Higher Education
Technology and Innovation; Industrialization and Trade; and the Namibia
Central Intelligence Agency. Within the restricted zone, employers must issue
letters of authorization to employees who are required to perform essential
service during the curfew hours.
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8.2. For the purpose of achieving the objectives of the restriction of movement and the ease
of implemeation of the regulations, the country is divided into 10 zones as follow:
• Zone 1: Zambezi region;
• Zone 2: Kavango East and Kavango West regions;
• Zone 3: Ohangwena, Oshikoto and Oshana region;
• Zone 4: Omusati region;
• Zone 5: Otjozondjupa and Omaheke regions but excluding Rehoboth and
Okahandja Local Authority Areas;
• Zone 7: Erongo region;
• Zone 8: !Karas region;
• Zone 9: Hardap region, excluding Rehoboth; and
• Zone 10: Kunene region.
9. Restrictions related to alcohol
No alcohol may be consumed at all alcohol outlets, being restaurants, bars, shebeens
and other alcohol outlets. No sale of alcohol may take place on Fridays, Saturdays,
Sundays and Public Holidays. Consumption of alcohol beverages may only take place
in homes or in hospitality establishments that host guests. House parties and other
celebrations like birthdays and other anniversary celebrations are prohibited.
10. Business operations
All food establishments, including kapana, restaurants, to serve food on a take-way
basis only, this includes food vendors selling ready cooked meals. High risk businesses
such as gyms, swimming pools, playgrounds and sports clubs will remain closed from
1 July to 15 July 2021. Salons and beauty parlors will be allowed to operate, subject to
adherence to health regulations. Specifically, not more than ten (10) person at a time
will be allowed in the premise. Workers, patrons or clients in these premises must wear
masks all the time. They must maintain physical distance of not less 1.5 meters and
sanitise regularly.
11. COVID-19 Laboratory testing:
Only the approved and validated Antigen-Rapid Diagnostic Test (ag-RDT) kits will be
authorized for use in Namibia. Use of these kits must be linked to an approved local
laboratory, clinic, hospital and casualty settings only. No other Ag-RDT will be
allowed to be used in the country without authority from the Namibia Medicines
Regulatory Authority (NMRC). All testing institutions or labs are required to complete
the Case Investigation Forms (CIFs).
12. Burials
We need to adjust and conform to the new imperatives imposed on us by Covid-19
pandemic. This is specifically true in respect of the way we mourn and bury our loved
ones. Covid-19 burials must conform to procedurs for safe burials. Covid-19 burial
must strictly take place within ten (10) days after the death has occurred. The
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attendance at the burials site is limited to ten (10) mourners only. Physical distance of
not less than 1.5 meters must be maintained at all times. It is discouraged for mourners
to congregate thereafter, either at the residence of the deceased person or at any other
place. It is also discouraged to serve meals after the burial. Where food is to be served,
it must be on a take-away basis. As I always say, we do not want one funeral to breed
more funerals!
12. I shall now articulate the current situation related to availability of hospital beds,
oxygen and our vaccination campaign.
12.1. Infrastructure
In total, there are 1 732 isolation beds countrywide, in the public and private sectors of
which 143 are ICU beds. In the next few days, Government will commission two Field
Hospitals in Windhoek and Oshakati, with the capacity of 70 and 40 beds, respectively.
Another building at the Katutura State Hospital Complex, with a capacity of 46 beds
and the Katutura Hospital Nuses Hall have been repurposed and will also be opened for
use in the coming days. Another 100-bed unit will be constructed at Katutura
Intermediate Hospital soon. The site works has commenced. This will increase the
number of isolation beds to 2024 countrywide and enhance access to medical care for
those who will need it most.
12.2. Oxygen
Deliberate steps have also been taken to improve the supply and availability of life-
saving oxygen to our health facilities. There are three ways in which oxygen is
supplied to health facilities, namely by free standing oxygen/gas generating systems,
installed at all district and referral hospitals, bulk oxygen tanks and refillable portable
oxygen cylinders. Three weeks ago, a 20-ton bulk oxygen tank was installed to provide
oxygen to the 76-bed Respiratory Unit at Katutura Hospital, where COVID-19 patients
are admitted. The existing bulk oxygen tanks at Tsumeb and Walvis Bay State
Hospitals, with the capacity of 6.5 tons each will also be filled as required to ensure
adequate care. We have also engaged Afrox to install a 13-ton bulk oxygen tank at
Oshakati State Hospital soon.
Also, a new gas generating unit with a capacity of producing 370 liters of oxygen per
minute, was installed one week ago at the Windhoek Central Hospital. It will supply
the dedicated 15-bed COVID-19 ICU and High Care Unit at the Central Hospital. A
similar unit was installed at Walvis Bay Hospital with the support of the private sector
last year. I also wish to inform that three hundred (300) portable oxygen cylinder have
been delivered in Windhoek. They will be taken to Afrox to be filled and will be
distributed to health facilities across the country, especially to facilities in remote areas.
Government is also pursuing the option of procuring oxygen concentrators to be
distributed to various public health facilities around the country as part of the
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intervention. The concentrators can play a significant role in assisting patients in
respiratory distress, but do not require high flow oxygen.
12.3.
Vaccination campaign
The nationwide vaccination in Namibia was launched on 19 April 2021 in all 14
Regions. We have to date received 197, 200 doses of COVID-19 vaccines. The
majority of these doses have been used up and only a limited stock remains. We will
continue to vaccine at sites where vaccine stocks are still available. This is international
best practice as other countries that have faced vaccine supply constraints have done
the same. The fact of the matter is that some protection is better than none. As of
yesterday, the 29 June 2021, there were a total of 35 503 doses of vaccines in different
districts around the country. Of these, 12 195 are AstraZeneca and 23 311 are
Sinopharm. Some five (5) districts have exhausted their allocated stock of AstraZeneca
vaccine, while two (2) districts have used up all the allocated Sinopharm doses.
Getting vaccinated is the most effective way to protect our country against the onslaught
of this dangerous pandemic. As per WHO guidance, even the first dose, provides
important protection against COVID-19. The available doses will be used to vaccinate
those receiving the first dose as well as identified persons considered to be at highest
risk of the severe disease, hospitalization and death. Namibians must stand together to
fight and defeat the infodemic of false information and conspiracy theories. I urge all
Namibians to form a united front in order to continue combating this pandemic.
Assuring the continuity and uninterrupted vaccine in order to reach herd immunity is
an ongoing pursuit. It requires a combined effort from all stakeholders, using each and
every tool in our arsenal.
I wish to address the concerns raised by members of the public regarding persons who
will receive a delayed second dose due to delayed arrival of vaccines in the country.
According to guidance from the World Health Organisation, a delayed administration
of the second dose of the vaccine will not adversely effects individuals. In fact, the
administration of the second dose may be delayed for up to 6 weeks.
The delivery of vaccines to the country have been delayed and we are working day and
night engaging manufacturers and through diplomatic channels to get the vaccines
soonest. Namibia has paid up in full for 108 000 doses of Astra Zeneca via the COVAX
facility. To date, 67 200 doses have been delivered. We expect the balance of 40 800
doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to reach our country during the month of July 2021.
We have also finalized orders for doses of Sinopharm, Astra Zeneca and Johnson &
Johnson vaccines. We await delivery of these vaccines in the coming weeks and
months. In terms of estimated dates of arrival, we have the following information at
our disposal. We have completed orders for the following vaccines:
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Table 1: The current status for the procurement of COVID-19 Vaccines
Vaccine
Quantity (Doses) Supplier
Expected Date of Delivery in 2021
AstraZeneca
40 800 COVAX Facility Remainder doses, early July, 2021
AstraZeneca
120 000 AZ Europe
Mid July, 2021
Sinopharm
150 000 Sinopharm
Early July, 2021
Sinopharm
100 000 UAE
Early July, 2021
J&J
250 000 AVATT
Early August, 2021
13. Government is continuing to ensure that our response as a nation to the pandemic
remains robust. In this regard, Cabinet, yesterday approved the establishment of five
Clusters to support the ongoing work carried out by the COVID-19 Preparednes and
Response Pillars. The Clusters are made up of senior officials and experts from
different Offices, Ministries and Agencies, Development Cooperation Partners and the
Private Sector. They will operate under specific Terms of References, reporting to the
National Disaster Risk Management Committee, which in turn reports to Cabinet. The
following clusters have been established:
• Facility
• Human resource
• Epidemiology/Dashboard
• Security
• Vaccination and
• Information and Publicity.
14. Other regulations
Other regulations that have not been amended shall remain in force.
15. I wish to conclude by thanking His Excellency Dr Hage G. Geingob for providing
leadership even during the time of his indisposition. I thank the Rt Hon Prime Minister,
the Deputy Prime Minister and Cabinet Colleagues for the steadfast support in
controlling this pandemic. I thank members of the public, the private sector, NGOs,
traditional, religious leaders and political parties. Let us all close ranks to defeat this
pandemic.
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Establishment of Clusters to support the COVID-19 Response
Annexure 1
The Clusters listed hereunder are established, pursuant to the Recommendation from the
National Disaster Risk Management Committee to supplement the work of the existing Pillars
of the National COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Team. The Ministry of Health and
Social Services has worked very hard, with some assistance from the rest of Government to
deal with different aspects of fighting Covid-19. Therefore, given the elevated level of the
pandemic, it was decided that there is a need to create additional clusters to assist the Ministry
of Health and Social Services to combat the pandemic. In this regard, the following clusters
were agreed to:
1. Facilities Cluster
This cluster will respond to the sourcing and availing of facilities to be used for Covid-
19 patients. This includes finding additional hospital space, beds, oxygen etc.
Members of this Cluster should identify senior people who will be freed from other
responsibilities for the next two weeks to address the infrastructural issues.
Members:
• Ministry of Health and Social Services (Chairperson);
• Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation;
• Ministry of Finance;
• Ministry of Works and Transport;
• Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs; and
• National Planning Commission.
2. Human Resource Cluster
This cluster will manage the recruitment of additional personnel that are required to
deal with the pandemic. Amongst the human resources constraints included limited
number of doctors locally, nurses and other health personnel. This Cluster should note
that a total of three hundred and fifty (350) locally trained nurses are due for graduation
end of June 2021. Therefore, the Ministry of Health and Social Services intends to
absorb the whole number to address the shortage of Human Resource.
Members
• Ministry of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation (Chairperson);
• Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture;
• Office of the Prime Minister;
• Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation;
• Ministry of Health and Social Services;
• Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security; and
• Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation.
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3. Epidemiology/Dashboard Cluster
This cluster is already in existence and convenes every second week.
Members
• Ministry of Health and Social Services (Chairperson);
• Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture;
• Ministry of Finance;
• Ministry of Justice;
• Office of the Attorney-General;
• Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).
4. Security Cluster
This cluster is already in existence and is functional. The cluster indicated that it is
experiencing challenges with transportation.
Members
• Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security Chairperson);
• Ministry of Health and Social Services
• Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs;
• Namibia Central Intelligence Service;
• Ministry of Justice; and
• Office of the Attorney-General.
Co-Opted Members
• Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation;
• Ministry of Finance; and
• Ministry of Works and Transport
5. Vaccination Cluster
This cluster should monitor the vaccination process, propose strategies to mobilize the
Nation to be vaccinated, and ensure that the country has sufficient vaccines at all times.
Members
• Ministry of Health and Social Services (Chairperson);
• Ministry of Finance;
• Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture;
• Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security;
• Ministry of Information and Communication Technology; and
• Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council (NMRC);
• Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation
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Co-Opted Members
• Office of the Attorney-General
6. Information and Publicity Cluster
This cluster should work in close consultation with the Vaccination Cluster to
disseminate information and hold media campaigns in terms of testing and Vaccination.
Members
• Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (Chairperson);
• Ministry of Health and Social Services;
• Ministry of Urban and Rural Development; and
• Association for Local Authorities in Namibia (ALAN).
***
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