THE STRATEGY: DEVELOPMENT AND STRENGTHENING

  • The Ministry of Health and Social Services shall continue to determine priorities and formulate strategies and detailed plans of action for the development, strengthening and smooth running of health and social welfare service programmes aimed at achieving the goal and objectives of the Ministry.


  • The Ministry shall ensure that adequate operational support services will be provided in the management of finance, personnel, logistics, information, transport, and estates in order to facilitate the efficient delivery of health and social welfare services at all levels.


    • SERVICES PROVISION
    PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

    Primary Health Care services shall be the focal point of health care provided to communities in Namibia, in collaboration with other relevant sectors. These services include:

  • The promotion of proper nutrition and adequate supply and utilisation of safe water;


  • Reproductive health including maternal, child care and family planning;


  • Immunisation against the major infectious diseases;


  • Promotion of basic housing and proper sanitation;


  • Prevention and control of locally endemic diseases;


  • Appropriate treatment of common diseases and condition;


  • Education and training concerning prevailing health and social problems in.the communities and the methods of preventing and controlling them;


  • Community based services, empowerment and self-reliance;


  • Promotion and maintenance of oral and mental health;


  • Development and implementation of appropriate district health packages and management support teams (RMT)


    • SECONDARY AND TERTIARY LEVEL SERVICES

    Secondary and tertiary health care services in Namibia shall be rationalized and appropriately strengthened to provide an integrated system of referral and supervisory support for primary health care services. The secondary and tertiary health care levels of services will also be used for training health and social workers as centre for research.

    PROVISION OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND REHABLITATIVE SERVICES

  • The Ministry of Health and Social Services will contribute to the social and economic development of the country by designing and implementing a developmental, community-centred and participatory social welfare policy which will promote the social, mental, spiritual and physical well-being of all habitants.


  • The Ministry in collaboration with other government and non-governmental agencies will make social welfare, services, social allowances and relief available to those Namibians most in need of such assistance. These services will include protection and empowerment of women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. People most in need will receive counselling, rehabilitation, pension and allowances.


    • The following other services will also be provided:

  • Prevention of social problems through advocacy towards equal opportunities, promotion of human security, community development, poverty reduction and responsible lifestyles.


  • Provision of remedial and psycho-social rehabilitation services, using methods such as counselling, cognitive and behavioural therapies, motivational interviews, group therapies, play-music therapy and life skill training.


  • Provision of institutional care as a last resort for vulnerable people and groups.


    • HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES REFORMS

  • The Ministry of Health and Social Services shall incorporate all existing health and social services in a rationalised form to address the health and social issues that Namibia will face in the future. The key features of the Ministry shall be the following:


  • Local level primary health care and social welfare services in community health centres and clinics, as well as outreach services to remote rural outreach posts or visiting points shall be appropriately strengthened and expanded in accordance with the needs of disadvantaged and undeserved communities.


  • District level health services comprising at least one district hospital, health centres, clinics, as well as rural health posts shall be established. District co-ordinating committees shall be responsible for identifying the health and social needs of local communities and devising solutions to meet these needs. This shall be done in close consultation, and with the involvement of these communities. Members of the district committees shall also participate in the planning of health and social welfare services of their specific region. As much discretionary authority as possible shall be vested at the district level in respect of functional management and operation of services, as well as budgetary responsibilities.


  • Regional management teams shall have the responsibility for planning, supervision and monitoring of regional services in collaboration with local authorities. Further more they shall provide management and technical support to district co-ordinating committees and district institutions.


  • The Regional Health Directorates shall be phased out as the Regional Management Teams (RMT’s) are phased in. this may be done sooner in some Regional Health Directorates than in others, but a co-ordinating timetable will be set immediately for phasing out Regional Health Directorates. This is also dependent upon the National Level effectively trimming and streamlining their functions and structures.


  • The National level will be less involved in control functions and resource management (transport, personnel management, nursing services) and operational tasks that can be better be done at lower levels. This means devolving operational authority in areas such as transport, logistics, personnel management, recruitment, intra-regional tranfers, diciplinary actions and financial management and related budget and control to regional and district levels. This should enable the National level to concentrate on providing technical support to Regional Management teams (RMT’s), Human Resource Development (HRD), clinical and administrative performance auditing, resource mobilization, international relations, regulation and setting standards and norms.


    • In addition, the central level will be responsible for policy formulation, legislation, strategic planning, co-ordination of functions, in close consultation with regional managers.

  • The following management structures will continue at the National level: The Executive Committee, the Ministerial Management Committee and the Policy Management development and Review committee.


  • A ministerial Steering Committee chaired by the Hon. Minister of Health and Social Services (members: The Deputy Minister, the Permanent Secretary, the Deputy Permanent Secretary, and the Under Secretaries) will be the highest policy making body in the Ministry of Health and Social Services. Advisers may be co-opted.


  • A National AIDS Committee shall be Constituted to formulate short term and medium term AIDS prevention and control plans for Namibia in consultation with the UN AIDS Programme and other relevant partners.


  • A statutory National Social Welfare Council shall be established to advise on social services policy, social allowances, relief and other matters related to social welfare services.


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