Uncontrolled border crossings 'order of the day'
MATHIAS NANGHANDA
EENHANA
The Namibia-Angola border continues to be the site of uncontrolled cross-border movement, despite the coronavirus state of emergency restrictions.
Ohangwena health director John Hango admitted on Friday that the border posts have not completely been sealed. Although police patrol along the border, Hango noted that it is impossible for law-enforcement agents to be everywhere at every moment. Okanyandi in the eastern part of Ohangwena has been identified as one of several border villages where uncontrolled cross-border movement remains the order of the day.
Main culprits
Namibian cattle herders, who take their livestock into and out of Angola to look for grazing and water on a daily basis, are said to be the main culprits. An increased number of herders crossing the borders into Namibia was experienced during the foot-and-mouth disease vaccination programme conducted by veterinarians at Okanyandi last week. Hango emphasised that Angola has nationals receiving healthcare in Namibia, thus it is difficult to stop a patient from that country entering Namibia for follow-up medical treatment.
He further said that Ohangwena has about 30 people quarantined in the region due to the pandemic, and that they are mostly Namibian travellers from Angola using the Oshikango border. “The number of people in isolation changes from time to time and is never the same, as some people are released from the centres after completing the quarantine period (14 days),” Hango noted.
Ohangwena has identified quarantine facilities at Oshikango, Okongo and Eenhana.
- Nampa
EENHANA
The Namibia-Angola border continues to be the site of uncontrolled cross-border movement, despite the coronavirus state of emergency restrictions.
Ohangwena health director John Hango admitted on Friday that the border posts have not completely been sealed. Although police patrol along the border, Hango noted that it is impossible for law-enforcement agents to be everywhere at every moment. Okanyandi in the eastern part of Ohangwena has been identified as one of several border villages where uncontrolled cross-border movement remains the order of the day.
Main culprits
Namibian cattle herders, who take their livestock into and out of Angola to look for grazing and water on a daily basis, are said to be the main culprits. An increased number of herders crossing the borders into Namibia was experienced during the foot-and-mouth disease vaccination programme conducted by veterinarians at Okanyandi last week. Hango emphasised that Angola has nationals receiving healthcare in Namibia, thus it is difficult to stop a patient from that country entering Namibia for follow-up medical treatment.
He further said that Ohangwena has about 30 people quarantined in the region due to the pandemic, and that they are mostly Namibian travellers from Angola using the Oshikango border. “The number of people in isolation changes from time to time and is never the same, as some people are released from the centres after completing the quarantine period (14 days),” Hango noted.
Ohangwena has identified quarantine facilities at Oshikango, Okongo and Eenhana.
- Nampa
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