Hon_Speech_23_April_2020


Hon_Speech_23_April_2020



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REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA
SPEECH OF HONORABLE MINISTER OF
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
ON THE OCCASION OF HAND OVER OF DONATION
FROM
NATIONAL UNITY DEMOCRATIC ORGANISATION
(NUDO)
23 April 2020

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Director of Ceremonies, Ms. Rene Adams – Chairperson of the
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Group
Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Honorable Dr.
Esther Muinjanue
Members of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
Response to COVID-19 Thematic Team
Officials of different Ministries, Agencies, Offices, Tertiary
Institutions, UN Agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations,
Political, Traditional and Religious Leaders
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen….
It is a great honour and pleasure for me to receive the donation
from the National Unity Democratic Organization (NUDO) here
today.
In the light of the world-wide outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic,
His Excellency, Dr. Hage Geingob declared a State of
Emergency. One of the measures under the State of Emergency
was as first lockdown of 21 days (27 March – 17 April 2020) for
Khomas- and Erongo Regions, inclusive of Okahandja and
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Rehoboth Local Authority areas, to suppress the further spread of
COVID-19. This lockdown was extended for fourteen (14) days
from 18 April until 04 May 2020.
A directive was given by the President to provide accommodation
to persons without for a period of at least three (3) months,
effective April to June 2020.
The Thematic Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
(MHPSS), comprising of multi-sectoral stakeholders, is
responding to this Directive.
Psychosocial support addresses a person’s emotional, social,
mental and spiritual needs – all essential elements of positive
human development. Psychosocial support also helps build
resilience in individuals, families, groups, communities and
society. Psychosocial support builds internal and external
resources for individuals and their families to cope with adversity.
The Goals of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
Thematic Group are as follows:
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To enhance the social functioning of people in distress in
order for them to deal with their needs and problems in an
effort to cope with their stressful situation.
To in-still hope, strengthen the capacity of people to become
resilient and to improve their quality of life.
To advocate for the needs, plights and rights of the poor and
the vulnerable.
To link people in need with the necessary services, resources
and opportunities.
To provide comprehensive and holistic care services to the
poor and the vulnerable through a multi-disciplinary team
approach.
To empower caregivers and significant others to provide
efficient and effective care and support to the infected and
affected by the life-threatening disease such as, COVID-19
and other challenges.
So far the Psychosocial Response Team have:
Four-hundred-and-sixty-one (461) persons without shelter
were already registered and moved to Katutura Youth
Hostel and Khomasdal Stadium.
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Food, water, as well as psychosocial support and public
health education are provided to the groups.
Director of Ceremonies, the Mental Health and Psychosocial
Support team members aim at not only providing shelter, food
and other basic necessities to vulnerable persons, but also to
engage with them on assessing their current health and social
needs, skills, as well as their plans for the future. Social workers
are currently in the process to finalize this assessment, after which
a report, with recommendations will be submitted to the relevant
authorities. It is vital for all of us to realize that implementation
of the mentioned recommendations will depend on action by all
stakeholders. Persons in need of shelter should be active partners
in this regard.
Director of Ceremonies, Ladies and Gentlemen…
With all the aforementioned said, I am sure that you all will agree
with me that we grateful for the donation of food to the value of
N$ 10,000.00 we will receive today from NUDO.
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In the words of a wise man: “Among the many difficulties our
people face during this time, wondering where their next meal
will come from should not be one of them”.
We are grateful for the effort and kind assistance that we are
receiving NUDO, in helping us to cater for the needs of
vulnerable persons in our society. We trust that this partnership
will continue and that it will grow from strength to strength far
beyond COVID-19.
I thank you…
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