Shangula rubbishes 'inflated deaths' claims

OGONE TLHAGE

WINDHOEK



Health minister Kalumbi Shangula has dismissed any notions that the government is registering Covid-19 deaths as a means to access funding from the World Health Organisation or the International Monetary Fund.

This follows speculation over the death of Namibia's youngest Covid-19 victim, a three-month-old baby, whose mother has disputed the official cause of death.





Shangula told Namibian Sun that there was no way the government could exaggerate deaths to benefit financially. “There is no truth in such a narrative. Before, they were accusing us of hiding the deaths. Now they are accusing us of exaggerating! How can one exaggerate a death?” Shangula asked.



Sharp rise in deaths

Namibia had registered 86 Covid-19 deaths by yesterday. Globally, the pandemic has claimed the lives of over 863 000 people so far.

Namibia had gone 116 days without recording a single death since reporting its first case in March. The first fatality was recorded in July when a 45-year-old man succumbed to the disease in Walvis Bay, which went on to become Namibia's first Covid-19 epicentre.

Globally the United States has recorded the most deaths from the pandemic, followed by Brazil, India, Mexico and the United States.

In Africa, South Africa has reported the highest death toll, followed by Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and Nigeria.