Windhoek: The Khomas Regional Council on Thursday hosted a send-off for 12 medical specialists departing for a 31-day observational fellowship at China's Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, from 03 August to 01 September 2026. During this programme, the Namibian specialists departing on Friday will work alongside leading Chinese healthcare professionals to investigate advanced clinical methods. This initiative is part of a health cooperation agreement between the Khomas Regional Council and the Health Commission of Jiangsu Province.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Emma Muteka, vice-chairperson of the Khomas Regional Council, emphasised that the partnership aims to enhance local doctors' clinical skills, enabling them to acquire specialised knowledge for Namibia's public health sector while strengthening institutions and delivering measurable outcomes. "Most importantly, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reaffirmed our shared belief that investing in healthcare professionals is one of the most effective ways to improve healthcare services and ultimately improve the lives of our citizens," she remarked.
Chinese ambassador Zhao Weiping emphasised that the medical exchange programme, part of a health cooperation agreement, aims to improve local healthcare and aligns with the shared future vision of Presidents Xi Jinping and Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, highlighting strengthened bilateral ties. "Healthcare and people-to-people exchanges have always been priority areas of cooperation between China and Namibia. During President Nandi-Ndaitwah's visit to China, both our presidents agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a China-Namibia community with a shared future for the new era and reached important consensus on further advancing cooperation across various fields, including healthcare and people-to-people exchanges," he said.
Khomas Governor Sam Nujoma said the health fellowship is advancing a decade-long partnership, noting that it builds on a July 2025 MoU and past successes, including 240 sight-restoring surgeries, to enhance local healthcare. "That MoU was designed to solidify specialist exchanges, training and capacity building, collaborative research, professional forums, and the strengthening of our health information systems," he said.
Head of Department at Windhoek Central Hospital, Dr Juanita !Naobeb, thanked the Khomas Regional Council, Jiangsu Provincial Government, Chinese Embassy, and Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital for the transformative medical fellowship, emphasising its importance for the future of Namibian healthcare. "We pledge to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, acquire advanced clinical skills from leading experts, and foster mutual cultural exchange," she said.