The Health Ministry on Monday launched the ‘Trusted Travel System’ for the verification of COVID-19 test results and vaccination certificates at Namibia’s ports of entry.

The system allows Namibia to transition from a paper-based manual system to an online system, where testing laboratories upload COVID-19 results directly to an online platform, making it easy for officials at entry points to verify the results.

Explaining how the system works, the health ministry’s systems administrator Frieda Niinyange said once a person is tested, their results will be directly uploaded on to the system by laboratory officials and the traveller will be issued with a code which they present at the border post for verification.

The system will become operational on 01 December 2021.

Namibia has 27 authorised COVID-19 testing laboratories that are listed on the platform. Where a traveller has used a laboratory not listed on the system or where a traveller is coming from a country which has not implemented the system, the traveller can create their own account on the system and upload their results.

Niinyange said at least 11 African countries including Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Ethiopia have implemented the system, while others are in the process of implementing it.

She added that her team will offer training to travel agencies and other stakeholders on how the system works so that they can assist their clients when making travel arrangements.

In his keynote address, Health Minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula said the paper-based systems for the verification of COVID-19 results was cumbersome and slow, resulting in long queues and delays for travellers at points of entry and exit and causing disruptions to travel plans, supply chains and logistics arrangements.

Shangula said the paper-based verification processes has also proven to be ineffective in ascertaining and determining the legitimacy and authenticity of test result certificates, hence the need for a system that ensures robustness, speedy execution and improved analytics across the verification continuum.

“Countries around the world, including Namibia, have experienced incidences of falsified and counterfeit PCR test results being presented at the various points of entry. It is these incidences of counterfeit results that necessitated the innovations to bring on board technologies to make this system a reality without delay,” Shangula said.

The system, developed by the African Union and Africa Centres for Disease Control, will be able to detect counterfeit test results and enhance cross-border collaboration.

The platform further provides updated information on entry requirements and travel restrictions for participating states, making it easy for travellers to plan their journeys.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Capricorn Group supports Rehoboth Primary School greenhouse project

The Capricorn Group has donated nets, tools, seeds, irrigation pipes and a water tank to Rehoboth Primary School for its greenhouse project.

The donation, worth N.dollars 20 000, went towards upgrading the school’s dilapidated greenhouse and repair the non-operational water irrigation system, Capricorn said in a media statement issued Monday.

The assistance is the result of personal volunteer initiatives undertaken by bank employees. The project was nominated by Michelle Strauss of Bank Windhoek’s Capricorn Branch and chosen as the winning entry following the launch of an internal #Changemaker competition.

According to the statement, the school project team expressed a desire to use fresh produce as a source of nutrition for the 100 children fed daily through the feeding programme.

Marlize Horn, Group Executive for Brand and Corporate Affairs was quoted in the statement as saying Capricorn Group takes pride in its passionate employees who make a difference in their communities by volunteering their own time and resources, adding that this is in line with the group’s brand position as connectors of positive change.

“The internal competition invited all employees who were involved in welfare projects on their own to enter and write a motivational letter explaining why Capricorn Group should support their initiative. The winning cause was chosen after careful consideration based on shared values, and winner Michelle Strauss from Bank Windhoek, a subsidiary of the group, was able to bring the project back to life with the help of her employer,” she stated.

Horn said Capricorn Group believes in every employee being a change maker and impacting communities, giving the employees a sense of fulfilment.

Strauss thanked the group for its contribution to the success of the greenhouse project.

“I know we will not only feed the hungry children but bring hope, love and inspiration to them,” she said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency