Tsumeb: Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare launched the Cancer Awareness and Palliative Care Advocacy project of the Tsumeb Hope Home-Based Health Care on Thursday. The initiative is aimed at promoting early detection, raising awareness, and advocating for the implementation of palliative care for all cancer patients across the country.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Ngurare remarked that approximately 4,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed annually in Namibia, with the figure increasing by about 12 percent each year. He highlighted that by 2025, over 25,800 individuals are expected to be impacted by cancer, whether newly diagnosed, undergoing treatment, or living with long-term effects. Ngurare stressed that this is not just a statistic but a reminder of the profound human cost.

He further noted that more than N.dollars 12 billion has been allocated to the Ministry of Health and Social Services, demonstrating the government's commitment to providing quality healthcare. 'This allocation is a clear demonstration of the high priority we place on healthcare as a fundamental right and an indispensable pillar of our national development strategy and our broader commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage,' he said.

Ngurare emphasized the government's vision to significantly reduce the cancer burden in Namibia, enhance the quality of life for those affected, and build a compassionate healthcare system capable of providing comprehensive and dignified care.

Eglien Uises, co-founder of Hope Home-Based Health Care, shared that her personal experience motivated her to serve over 107 vulnerable cancer patients in Tsumeb. 'We improve the living conditions of the patients, control and manage their struggle and suffering, and we ensure that they get their medication and that they get the best care,' she said. The Home-Based Health Care currently employs 36 medical professionals and caregivers.