Health receives Hepatitis virus testing supplies
THE Ministry of Health and Social Services received a donation of Hepatitis E and Hepatitis A virus testing supplies from the government of Japan to help intensify the ministry’s response to the virus outbreak.
The donation, made through the World Health Organisation (WHO), includes Rapid Diagnostic Testing (RDTs) kits for Hepatitis A virus (HAV) and Euroimmune Elisa confirmatory testing supplies purchased at a combined value of N$115 000 to support the Hepatitis E virus outbreak activities.
The donation also includes biomedical equipment, funded by WHO to a combined value of over N$12.8 million to support the government’s coronavirus response activities. Speaking at the handover ceremony yesterday, Japanese ambassador to Namibia Hideaki Harada said Japan is committed to supporting the Namibian government’s leadership and efforts, in partnership with WHO, to ensure all community members can live a fulfilling life through a strengthened health system.
“I sincerely hope that the equipment and supplies provided under this project are fully utilised, not only for tackling against Hepatitis E but also for contributing to the general improvement in Namibian people’s health,” he said.
Harada also added that through current bilateral cooperation between the two countries, Japan is implementing a medical equipment supply project to 17 hospitals in Namibia to tackle Covid-19 and to help upgrade the Namibian health system as a whole.
Speaking at the same occasion, WHO country representative Charles SagoeMoses said strengthening diagnostic testing capacity is important to rule out Hepatitis and determine the cause of acute jaundice where possible.
Sagoe-Moses further stated that WHO and health ministry, with support from the government of Japan, will accelerate the implementation of Hepatitis response activities, including training and deployment of health facility staff in the use of Hepatitis Rapid diagnostic kits, recruitment of local volunteers to strengthen human resource capacity in health ministry and capacity building for healthcare workers in Hepatitis coordination, surveillance and case management, risk communication and community engagement, amongst others.
On his part, health minister Kalumbi Shangula stated that the support from Japan and WHO in the form of donations will go a long way in assisting the ministry in combatting Hepatitis E in terms of diagnostics and management.