Namibia has a high prevalence of congenital and rheumatic heart disease, with 40-60 children examined weekly in outpatient clinics, Executive Director in the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) Ben Nangombe has said.

Rheumatic heart disease occurs when the heart valves are permanently damaged as a result of rheumatic fever.

Heart valve damage can occur soon after an untreated or under-treated streptococcal infection, such as strep throat or scarlet fever.

Nangombe, while receiving N.dollars 219 000 for medical equipment for the Windhoek Central Hospital’s cardiac unit from First Rand Namibia recently, said the inpatient load is also significant, with new patients born with structural heart abnormalities in neonatal hospitals every day.

He stated that each year, doctors and nurses conduct two to three outreach clinics to two hospitals in northern Namibia, namely Onandjokwe and Oshakati because these areas are the most affected due to their larger populations.

“In the last 15 years, Namibia has made great strides in successfully treating heart disease on a local level, and since its inception in 2008, the Windhoek Central Hospital Cardiac Unit has played an important role in this regard,” he said.

FirstRand Namibia Foundation Trustee, Jane Katjavivi at the handover event said the foundation was established to assist individuals in need, with health being one of the key sectors it serves.

“On its own, the government cannot address all of Namibia’s health concerns. We are honoured to be among so many other Namibians who have put their personal interests aside and banded together to help the government and our country,” she said.

Source: Namibia Press News Agency