The outgoing representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Namibia, Charles Sagoe-Moses, says Namibia needs to strengthen its health system’s capacity.
“We need to continue to strengthen the health in our system by making sure that we have healthcare workers who are skilled but also investing in community health workers at the grassroots,” Sagoe-Moses said during a meeting with president Hage Geingob in Windhoek on Tuesday.
He said the country needs to place emphasis on primary health in support of universal healthcare.
Sagoe-Moses also appealed for accessible healthcare in Namibia when he paid a courtesy visit to Gengob.
Sagoe-Moses has been the WHO’s representative in Namibia for six years.
The Namibian reported recently that the Ministry of Health and Social Services has been struggling with staff shortages, operating at only 60% of its capacity in March 2022.
The 2022 Healthcare Workforce Status Report provides a comprehensive look at the staffing situation in public health facilities, including both government-funded and donor-funded healthcare workers at all levels of the health service delivery system.
The ministry has 21 138 posts in its approved staff establishment, but only 13 029 are filled.
Staffing levels also vary across district hospitals, with Mariental, Lüderitz, Nankundu, Okakarara, Karasburg, Okahao, Tsandi and Omaruru having very low staffing levels.
Overall, the ministry has 19 976 staff members, with a number of them being donor funded.
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