WINDHOEK ELVIS MURARANGANDA
The minister of health and social services, Dr Richard Kamwi, has been elected to serve on the World Health Organisation's executive board for the next three years.
Kamwi will join 33 other individuals designated by member states to offer technical expertise to the board while the ministry's deputy permanent secretary, Dr Norbert Forster, has been designated as alternate member.
Minister Kamwi said the election to the board was exciting but he would at the same time take it with caution due to the immense challenges facing the World Health Organisation, said the ministry in a statement.
According to the statement, Kamwi cited the disease burden facing Africa, where HIV/Aids, TB and malaria remain a challenge, the unmet targets of the Millennium Development Goals, and how to address the stark contrasts between rich and poor nations.
Kamwi said the fact that Namibia has been considered for election to the board two times during his term of office at the ministry demonstrated the confidence the international community has in the country following its exemplary health indicators.
The other countries are Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Brazil, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Japan, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Suriname. Namibia and South Africa will represent the WHO African region, which currently consists of 46 countries.
Namibia will also serve on the General Committee of the World Health Assembly (WHA). It is the first time since Independence 23 years ago that the country will serve on the General Committee, which is the cabinet of the WHA.
