GENEROUS SUPPORT FOR UNAM REACHES BEYOND IMMEDIATE COVID-19 NEED

When a global pandemic strikes it touches the lives of everybody.

Every business, organisation, citizens young and old, rich and poor, can contribute towards a positive outcome, even by just wearing a mask and by supporting Government in its efforts to curb the spread. Namibia is fortunate to have a small population, hardly any air pollution and citizens who adhere to the directives however uncomfortable and distressing.

The University of Namibia’s Hage Geingob School of Medicine was part of the country’s successful mitigation of the spread of the virus in Namibia. With the acquisition of COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing equipment, which analyses at least 250 samples in eight hours, UNAM contributed to the quick turnaround time for results. The UNAM Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory was established as a licensed medical laboratory with the help of the Namibia Institute of Pathology and a generous donation from Debmarine Namibia.

The fully equipped laboratory donated to the Medical School is licensed to conduct not only COVID-19 tests but it also has testing capacity well beyond this pandemic and will contribute to building capacity for students and nurturing talent through youth development.

The N$3.6 million investment by Debmarine Namibia, with additional sponsorship for testing kits, training and maintenance for one year, will be transferred to the University. This laboratory will complement the Namibia Institute of Pathology. At the launch of the new equipment, UNAM Vice Chancellor Prof. Kenneth Matengu confirmed that the NIP has been instrumental in assisting UNAM with validation and quality assurance of the UNAM laboratory’s tests in order to meet the extremely stringent requirements for licensing.

“We use the PCR machines to run tests, but also to mine the collected data to conduct research and make a scientific contribution to the body of knowledge that deals with fighting disease outbreaks. This is in line with UNAM’s vision of being a sustainable international hub of excellence in higher education, training and innovation by 2030”, Prof. Matengu said.

The PCR machine, donated to the University of Namibia for analysing COVID-19 samples, came with a fully equipped laboratory and equipment such as fridges, freeze samples and cabinets with ultraviolet light to prep the specimens and centrifuge machines.

At the hand-over of the equipment Debmarine Namibia CEO Otto Shikongo said the health and safety of Namibians arevalued above all else. The Company has taken extreme measures to ensure the safety and protection of its employees. Shore-based employees have been technologically enabled to work from home since March. Since August all the sea-going employees are methodically tested and monitored before boarding the vessels, and the entire workforce and their families are tested as needed.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, and the Minister of Higher Education Training, Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi, as well as the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP), Dr David Uirab, attended the hand-over.