The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) said it never had internship training for occupational therapy graduates before and that it is implementing this training for the first time this year.

Health minister, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, said this in the National Assembly on Tuesday, responding to questions by Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member, Nico Smit, who wanted to know what the status of occupational therapy internship in the ministry is and when such internship training is going to commence.

Smit further enquired whether it would not be a waste of taxpayers’ money and a loss to the country in the event that occupational therapy graduates seek internship training in other countries.

‘The ministry is not aware that graduates are trying to find internship outside the country. It will however be unfortunate if any of them will contemplate such a move. In any event, securing a place in a foreign country will not be easy and faster rather than waiting for a few weeks in Namibia,’ the minister said.

Shangula said the ministry never had internship training for occupational therapy graduates before and that it would be implementing such training for the first time.

Due process, he said, has to be followed first when implementing internships, such as assessing facilities for accreditation to train graduates for internship.

The minister explained that in the past no facility in the ministry was accredited to train occupational therapy interns and that the process was only started after the University of Namibia came on board to offer the occupational therapy programme.

This year, the ministry received 12 students as the first group to be trained as occupational therapy interns.

“Their application forms for internship were received 28 January 2022 before their initial graduation in May 2022. A submission for clearance was prepared on 07 February 2022 and was received on 14 February 2022 by Cabinet Secretariat. Clearance for nine graduates was obtained from the Office of the Prime Minister on 17 February 2022,” he said.

According to Shangula, the ministry submitted a request that the training programme should start in June, however the Public Service Commission is yet to provide feedback in this regard.

This profession, he added, is regulated by the Health Professions Council of Namibia and that training facilities of the ministry are done according to the availability of well-skilled and experienced trainers.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency