The government has allocated N$16.2 million over the next four years to bolster the One Health Joint Plan Strategy, a programme designed to combat diseases transmissible between animals and humans.
This initiative is a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Health and Social Services, Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, and Environment, Forestry and Tourism as well as the University of Namibia.
Speaking at the launch of the Strategy, Minister of Health and Social Services Kalumbi Shangula said the strategy aligns with global efforts towards health security, particularly the One Health Joint Plan of Action established by the World Health Organisation, the Food and Agriculture Organisation, and other international bodies.
“The Government of the Republic of Namibia, through the budget allocations to relevant Offices, Ministries and Agencies, will allocate an amount of more than N$4,050,136 annually, to support the implementation of the One Health Strategy. This translates to N$16,200,544 over the Strategy’s four-year implementation period,” he said.
He added that the allocated amount would cover direct funding for specific interventions in the priority sectors, activities related to implementing the National Plan of Action for Health Security, and other operational costs within the sectors.
The National One Health Strategy is expected to be reviewed annually and its activities integrated with existing health security programmes, Shangula said.
“The interventions will be further linked to the existing functions of the IHR National Focal Point. It is important to note that the implementation of the strategy will be monitored and evaluated regularly to ensure that the plan is effectively implemented at all levels,” he said.
Namibia has reported several cases of zoonotic diseases, including anthrax, Foot-and-Mouth Disease, brucellosis, Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever and other tick-borne pathogens.
