Namibia has launched the National Multi-Hazard Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (2024) to combat growing hazards including biological, technological, social, and environmental risks. The plan aims to improve emergency preparedness, disease surveillance, and public awareness in response to these threats affecting health and the economy. The Health Minister calls for active participation to protect public health amidst increasing disaster risks due to climate change and urbanization.
Namibia is increasingly confronted with various hazards including biological, technological, societal, and environmental threats. To address these growing risks, the nation has launched the National Multi-Hazard Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (2024), which aims to enhance emergency preparedness and response measures across the country. The plan underscores that these hazards not only endanger lives but also affect economic stability and environmental integrity.
The National Multi-Hazard Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan is based on comprehensive risk assessments conducted by a multisectoral team. The assessments utilized the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Strategic Tool for Assessing Risk (Star) in 2021, while earlier evaluations in 2017 and 2019 corroborated these findings. The plan identifies critical biological risks such as cholera, Ebola, Covid-19, rabies, hepatitis E, and several others, alongside natural hazards like earthquakes, droughts, and wildfires.
Furthermore, the response plan takes into account various technological and societal hazards, including mine accidents, structural fires, and sewage exposure. The Ministry of Health and Social Services, in conjunction with multiple stakeholders, will implement preparedness measures aimed at enhancing disease surveillance, emergency infrastructure, and public awareness initiatives to alleviate disaster impact.
Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula has emphasized the significance of this plan, urging all sectors to engage in its implementation. He stated that, “This framework will ensure that Namibia is well prepared to detect, respond to, and recover from any public health emergency, ultimately protecting lives and livelihoods.”
The necessity for this plan arises amidst ongoing concerns related to climate change, urbanization, and economic fluctuations that exacerbate disaster risks. Prior reporting from The Namibian has highlighted various public health challenges, including an outbreak of hepatitis E in informal settlements and significant healthcare impacts from the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as rising mental health issues stemming from economic difficulties and environmental displacement.
Namibia’s National Multi-Hazard Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan serves as a crucial framework to bolster the nation’s resilience against an array of threats. Through enhancing disease surveillance, strengthening emergency infrastructure, and increasing public engagement, the government aims to prepare effectively for public health emergencies. This initiative is particularly pertinent given the escalating challenges posed by climate change and societal issues affecting health and wellbeing.
Original Source: www.namibian.com.na
