Water supply restoration in Opuwo makes significant progress NBC Online Mon, 04/07/2025 - 14:12

Justicia Shipena The ministry of health and social services has declared a cholera outbreak in the Opuwo District of the Kunene Region following confirmation of locally transmitted cases. Health minister, Dr Esperance Luvindao, made the announcement on Thursday during a media briefing in Windhoek.  She said eight suspected cases had been reported as of 18 June 2025.  Six of these, including one death, are from the same household. Two other suspected cases were identified in Opuwo and Otjimuhaka village.  Preliminary tests for those two came back negative.  Confirmatory tests for the first two cases were conducted by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in South Africa.  The results confirmed the presence of Vibrio cholerae 01, the bacteria that cause cholera. “Obtaining from these confirmed findings, I thus today officially declare a cholera outbreak in Opuwo District,” said Luvindao. She said that under World Health Organisation standards, even one locally transmitted confirmed case qualifies as an outbreak. The first four cases, three of them children, were admitted to Opuwo District Hospital with symptoms consistent with cholera.  One patient died from severe dehydration. The remaining five are being treated in an isolation ward and are in stable condition. Cholera is a waterborne disease that spreads through contaminated water or food.  It can cause severe diarrhoea and dehydration, and if not treated quickly, can lead to death. The ministry has activated an incident management system to coordinate a national response.  Rapid response teams have been deployed to affected areas.  Other measures include strengthening disease surveillance and laboratory testing, community engagement, and public health education. “We are gaining practical insight into what works in the region,” said Luvindao.  She stressed the importance of a “whole-of-government and whole-of-society” response to stop the outbreak. Efforts are underway to improve water quality through chlorination and other safe water supply measures.  The ministry has also established Oral Rehydration Points and Cholera Treatment Units to provide immediate care and manage the spread of the disease. Luvindao urged the public to drink only treated or boiled water, wash hands regularly with soap and clean water, and avoid eating food from unsafe sources.  She encouraged anyone experiencing watery diarrhoea or vomiting to seek immediate medical attention and start taking oral rehydration solutions. She called on all sectors, including government, civil society, and local leaders, to help ensure access to clean water and sanitation. “Together, through coordinated efforts and responsible actions, we can control and end this outbreak,” said Luvindao.

[New Era] Auleria Wakudumo

A measles outbreak has been reported in mid August after a case was confirmed in Opuwo district after a 9 year old foreign national residing in Opuwo town tested positive for the disease by Measles Ig...

Cholera Outbreak Declared in Opuwo NBC Online Thu, 06/19/2025 - 20:18

De Himba bezoeken doe je het beste nabij Opuwo in het Noordwesten van Namibie. Ik had veel vragen aan de Himba, zij ook aan mij. Hoe leuk!

Only one councillor attends Minister Sankwasa’s scheduled meeting in Opuwo NBC Online Thu, 05/15/2025 - 16:56

Legacy Project team engages stakeholders in Opuwo NBC Online Wed, 07/23/2025 - 19:05

The government is set to start afresh on developing a stadium at Opuwo – 12 years after selling sport grounds there to businessman Erastus ‘Chicco’ Shapumba for N$1.3 million. Shapumba subsequently sold the same arena for N$5 million without value addition, making close to N$4 million. Under any circumstances that would be a dodgy deal. It’s great to see president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah hitting the ground running to deliver on the promise of providing facilities to communities around the country. So far, N$450 million has been budgeted for the construction, renovation and upgrading of sport fields. Namibians, especially the youth, desperately need public amenities to channel energies that will help turn them into productive citizens away from alcohol and drug abuse. While carrying out such projects, please prohibit alcohol and similar harmful drugs at public facilities. It’s shocking that the Opuwo Sport Stadium was sold in what seems a predatory manner to businessman Shapumba. State officials involved in this sale must be brought to book. Governments at all levels must be placed under strict rules when alienating public property to avoid dubious transactions that rob the public of much-needed amenities. The post Govt Must Red Card Crooked Deals appeared first on The Namibian.

Niël Terblanché The ministry of health and social services has confirmed a new suspected cholera case in Opuwo’s Orokapare location. The patient, a 13-year-old boy, was admitted on 20 June with acute watery diarrhoea and severe abdominal pain.  According to the ministry, he had no known contact with previous cholera cases and was discharged on Sunday in stable condition.  Health officials visited his household on Monday and found all family members in good health. The ongoing recording of new cases has renewed focus on the outbreak in the Kunene region, which has already claimed one life and infected several others. According to the latest ministry figures, Namibia has recorded six laboratory-confirmed cases, one epidemiologically linked case, two cases that tested negative, and one new suspected case currently under review. With support from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the ministry deployed three SURGE staff to assist local health teams.  Two are working on risk communication and community engagement, while one is focusing on water, sanitation and hygiene interventions.  They will be joined by an epidemiologist and a senior public health advisor from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who are supporting surveillance and lab testing. The health minister, Dr Esperance Luvindao, recently announced new emergency measures to contain the outbreak. “Cholera is a severe public health threat due to its rapid transmission and potentially fatal consequences if left untreated,” she said. The first four suspected cases were reported on 13 June.  All came from the same household. One of the patients, a child, died from severe dehydration.  By 18 June, eight suspected cases had been recorded, six from the same family. Laboratory testing confirmed the presence of Vibrio cholerae 01, a known outbreak-causing strain.  Samples were sent to South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases for verification. “The confirmation of cases was done with the support of the NICD in South Africa, where the samples were sent earlier this week. This confirmation has allowed us to tailor our response efforts to effectively target the specific strain affecting the household and potentially the surrounding communities,” said Luvindao. The ministry activated its incident management system to coordinate a multi-sectoral response.  Rapid response teams have been deployed to Opuwo and nearby areas to provide treatment, strengthen disease surveillance, and implement control measures. Cholera treatment units and oral rehydration points have been set up. Efforts to secure clean drinking water through chlorination are in progress. Luvindao said the outbreak highlights deeper socio-economic issues. “The persistence of cholera in any community signifies gaps in access to clean water, sanitation, and basic healthcare services. We must work together to address the root causes of cholera and create sustainable solutions that promote health equity,” she said. She urged residents to practice proper hygiene, drink only treated or boiled water, and seek immediate medical help if symptoms occur. Luvindao called on civil society, the media, and community leaders to support the ministry by spreading accurate information and encouraging prevention. “The Ministry of Health and Social Services is closely monitoring the situation and will keep the public informed of new developments. Together, through coordinated efforts and responsible actions, we can control and end this outbreak,” she said.

A CULPABLE homicide case has been opened at the Opuwo Police Station after a woman died after she was allegedly struck by a taxi at the town on Sunday evening. Chief inspector Vehangaiza Ruiter, the Namibian Police’s community affairs officer for the Kunene region, said on Monday that the incident occurred at around 20h00, when a woman, believed to be in her late thirties, was allegedly hit and killed by an oncoming vehicle while attempting to cross the road at Orutjandja location at Opuwo. “A taxi was traveling from the Ondororundu area when the driver collided with the woman, who was crossing the road, resulting in her death at the scene. The taxi driver remained at the scene and contacted the police, who arrived to initiate an investigation,” Ruiter said. She added that the deceased’s next of kin have not yet been notified, as police are still attempting to establish the family’s whereabouts given that no identification documents were found with the deceased. In an unrelated incident at Opuwo, an Angolan national, identified as Kauendera Ruvandu, allegedly drowned around 18h20 on Sunday while trying to cross a river during heavy rainfall at Orutjandja location. Ruiter said the deceased allegedly attempted to cross the river despite several onlookers warning and trying to dissuade him. His body was later recovered by police approximately 100 meters from Orutjandja location. The post Woman dies after being hit by taxi at Opuwo appeared first on The Namibian.

MoHSS reports suspected cholera outbreak in Opuwo NBC Online Fri, 06/13/2025 - 19:47

Niël Terblanché The ministry of health and social services (MoHSS) is investigating a suspected cholera outbreak in the Opuwo District of the Kunene region after several individuals from the same household fell ill and one child died. According to the ministry, two four-year-old children were taken to Opuwo District Hospital on 9 June 2025.  Both showed signs of acute, watery diarrhoea and severe dehydration. One of the children died shortly after arrival.  The other child remains in the hospital’s isolation ward and is recovering. Preliminary lab tests conducted on 11 and 12 June detected Vibrio cholerae, the bacteria that cause cholera, in samples taken from the children. However, the ministry said confirmatory results were still pending. On 13 June, two more suspected cases from the same household were admitted to the hospital. A five-year-old child and a 35-year-old adult. Both are in isolation and in a stable condition. The ministry said none of the affected individuals had recently travelled or attended public events such as funerals or weddings. “Engagement with the family revealed no travel history among family members and no confirmation of receiving visitors from outside the country,” said the ministry’s executive director, Penda Ithindi, in a media statement over the weekend.  According to international health standards, one locally acquired, lab-confirmed case of cholera is enough to declare an outbreak and trigger public health actions.  “At the time of preparing this notice, the MoHSS is still waiting for the confirmatory laboratory results; therefore, we are suspecting a cholera outbreak, but this is not confirmed yet,” Ithindi said.  Ithindi said health officials have already started response efforts in Opuwo.  These include early case detection, public education, and encouraging people to seek medical help if they experience symptoms. He reminded the public that cholera is preventable and treatable, but can be deadly if not managed quickly. “If left untreated, cholera can be fatal, with a fatality rate estimated at 25–50%.  However, with prompt and appropriate treatment, this can be reduced to less than 1%,” the release said. Namibia is one of several African countries currently facing cholera concerns. As of 15 May 2025, over 116,000 cases and more than 2,400 deaths have been reported worldwide.  Most were in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and Sudan. The ministry has urged anyone with symptoms such as watery diarrhoea and vomiting to seek immediate medical care.

Explore this photo album by Marco Di Leo on Flickr!

Niël Terblanché NamWater has deployed a water tanker in Opuwo to provide interim relief to residents still affected by a major disruption to the town’s water supply. The water tanker is supplying water to communities such as Olushandja and Katutura, which remain without piped connections following flood-related damage to key infrastructure. The national water utility’s spokesperson, Lot Ndamanomhata, said the company has made progress in restoring water services after last week’s flooding severely impacted Opuwo. “The 300 millimetre diameter feeder pipeline connecting three critical boreholes to the collector reservoir has been successfully reinstated. This, together with the reactivation of borehole pumps, has allowed water to begin flowing again into the town’s system,” he said. He, however, added that access to the 250 mm feeder pipeline that links two more boreholes remains hindered by persistent waterlogging and mud in the riverbed. “NamWater’s technical teams are monitoring the conditions closely and intend to resume repairs as soon as the site becomes accessible,” he said. Floodwaters damaged several parts of Opuwo’s water infrastructure, including the treatment plant, the town’s main borehole to the west, and at least four pipeline sections. The collector reservoir was also emptied as a result of the disruption. “Our maintenance team has been deployed and is on the ground to assess the full extent of the damage and to initiate emergency repair work,” he said. According to Ndamanomhata, NamWater’s broader response plan involves a full evaluation of all boreholes connected to the treatment plant, the installation of emergency pipelines, and the mobilisation of personnel and equipment needed to restore operations. “We acknowledge the disruption this may cause to residents and businesses in Opuwo and affected areas of the North West Business Unit,” he said Ndamanomhata again urged the public to remain patient as work progresses and assured residents that further updates will be provided.

Kunene councillors SNUB Urban Minister's meeting NBC Online Fri, 05/16/2025 - 12:24

Five-day Parliamentary Legal Workshop underway in Opuwo NBC Online Tue, 07/22/2025 - 15:15

[Namibian] The Ministry of Health and Social Services has officially declared a cholera outbreak in the Opuwo district.

Namibia Declares Measles Outbreak in Opuwo: What You Need to Know Namibia's health officials have sounded the alarm on a measles outbreak in the Opuwo district of the northwestern Kunene Region. Out of 20 suspected cases, 10 have tested positive for the virus, the Ministry of Health and Social Services announced on Wednesday. Health Minister Esperance Luvindao shared the update in a statement, reassuring everyone that all affected patients remain in stable condition with no deaths reported so far.

Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater) spokesperson Lot Ndamanomhata says progress has been made in restoring the water supply to the town of Opuwo. In a statement issued on Monday, Ndamanomhata says the 300mm diameter feeder pipeline connecting three critical boreholes to the collector reservoir has been successfully reinstated. “Furthermore, the reactivation of borehole pumps has enabled the system to receive water from these sources once again, significantly improving the town’s overall water supply,” he says. Although the 250mm feeder pipeline connecting two additional boreholes remains inaccessible due to ongoing waterlogging and muddy conditions in the riverbed, NamWater technical teams are closely monitoring the situation. Repair operations will resume as soon as the site becomes accessible. In the meantime, to ensure that all affected communities continue to receive water, NamWater has stationed a water tanker truck at Opuwo, says Ndamanomhata. “This tanker is actively distributing water to areas not yet receiving piped supply, particularly in the Olushandja and Katutura communities. “NamWater remains committed to ensuring the full restoration of water services at Opuwo and extends its appreciation to residents for their patience and cooperation during this time. The corporation will continue to provide regular updates as developments unfold,” he adds. The post NamWater says Opuwo water supply restoration making progress appeared first on The Namibian.