Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Namibian government has waived import duty on the import of medical oxygen, oxygen-related equipment and ventilators. This was revealed by the Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, at the handover of a donation from the Frans Indongo Trust on Wednesday.
Dr. Shangula explained that the move is part of government’s efforts to ease shortages at the country’s referral and private hospitals, which have been struggling to meet rising demands.
The Frans Indongo Trust donated N$973 302.43 to the health ministry to assist in the procurement of sanitisers and oxygen concentrators needed for patients. The donation comprises of ten 10L Oxygen Concentrators worth N$273 585 and sanitisers worth N$699 717.43.
“Namibia’s early and ongoing response to COVID-19 has been robust and effective to such an extent that we are steadily emerging from one of the most devastating periods in the history of our public health sector,” he said.
He stated that the Trust has shown exemplary leadership by choosing to focus on concentrators that are used to manage some of the severe and critically ill Covid-19 positive patients who are in dire need of oxygen.
Dr. Shangula indicated that a global pandemic like Covid-19 requires a national and collective response. Despite the numbers of Covid-19 now going down, Dr Shangula said the severe and critically ill continue to be admitted and the need for oxygen concentrators will definitely continue.
Dr. Solly Amadhila, chairperson of the Trust, said the Covid-19 crisis has not only affected the wellbeing of the people, but the economy of the world at large.
The fight against poverty is therefore, now more than ever, critical. “The pandemic showed us that by cooperating we can rebuild a more sustainable world,” said Dr. Amadhila.
Since the presidential declaration of the State of Emergency in the wake of Covid-19 last year in March, the Frans Indongo Group, through the Frans Indongo Trust donated, has donated N$2 million to assist the Government of Namibia in the fight against the pandemic.
Dr. Amadhila stated that together, they can strengthen the emergency response capacity of the public health system throughout the country, and by supporting the Ministry of Health and Social Services, it will continue to benefit the people of Namibia and contribute to saving lives.
