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Donation of Covid-19 medical equipment and material to the Namibian Government by Germany
Dignataries showing some of the donated items.(from left to right): Mr Ben Nangombe, Honourable Esther Muinjangue, HE Mr. Herbert Beck and Dr. Thomas Kirsch., © German Embassy, Windhoek
The Governments of the Republic of Namibia and the Federal Republic of Germany are pleased to announce the arrival of a consignment of medical supplies from Germany to assist with the Namibian Government’s efforts to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 and its severe impacts on the public health system. This was a response to the request for support by the Namibian Government under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The donation was handed over to the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Honourable Esther Muinjangue on the 26th July 2021 by the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Namibia, His Excellency Mr. Herbert Beck.
The donation was facilitated through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ) and the Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS). The items donated include ventilators and all relevant accessories, pulse oximeters and PCR test kits with a value of 500.000 Euros (approx. 8.5 Mio. N$). This shipment is one of several consignments, donated by the German Government, with a total value of approximately 11.2 million Euros (approx. 190 Mio. N$).
The Namibian- German bilateral development cooperation in jointly agreed priority areas has existed since independence. In addition to the development cooperation framework, Germany has always been willing to assist on request of the Namibian
Government to meet development needs and assist in times of crisis/ hardship. The fight against the current global COVID-19 pandemic is no exception. Speaking at the handover ceremony, Ambassador Beck stated that the donation shall support the Namibian Government in its fight against the severe effects of the third wave of Covid-19 and the devastating loss of lives.
The German response to COVID-19 in Namibia includes, amongst other support measures, activities implemented by GIZ. In 2020, 4.5 million Euros of additional funding was provided on short notice to various ongoing projects to support the most vulnerable groups of the population, procure medical equipment, hygiene materials and PPE kits, improve water supply and sanitation facilities in informal settlements and rural areas, improve the digital capacities of the respective partner institutions and support start-ups and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to ensure business continuity, to mention but a few areas of intervention. In 2021, an additional 3.9 million Euros was again provided for the same purpose. Furthermore, support is provided to the Ministry of Finance and the National Planning Commission to develop a Post- Pandemic Economic Recovery plan.
Both Governments commit to urgently distribute the consignment to the areas of the country that have the greatest need, train relevant medical personnel on the usage of the equipment, particularly the ventilators, and ensure that the materials are put to good use as soon as possible.
The Namibian Government wishes to extend its most sincere appreciation to the German Government and commends the long-standing cooperation between the two countries. The German Government in return, extends gratitude to the Namibian Government for the strong bilateral relations between the two countries and reiterates its commitment to continue with development cooperation in identified priority Areas.