The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the physical health of millions of people in many ways, regardless their age and country of origin. Some of these physical consequences are severe and others still unknown. But, what about the mental health? How is the Coronavirus affecting our thoughts, behaviour and emotions? In an interview with Clinical Psychologist Edwina Mensah-Husselmann, she said “The Covid-19 pandemic has a major effect on mental health because the illness affects people in different ways just like in the case of many other life threating illness or diseases.” Covid-19 patients and caregivers are especially at risk for mood changes, anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). On the flipside of things, people recovering from COVID-19 often deals with complex feelings of grief due to the enormous loss experienced. Some people are experiencing survivor’s guilt and others have developed a tendency to become overly hygienic- washing their hands more frequently, wearing protect clothing. Normally this would not be a problem but in this case, it prevents people from living normal lives because they are afraid of contracting the virus again- (Paranoia with OCD traits). Because of coronavirus fears of contracting the virus, spreading it to loved ones and possibly dying of it, Mensah-Husselmann pointed out that this can lead to paranoia and every so often result into the use of harmful remedies and substance abuse to self-medicate and as a desperate attempt to salvage the situation or just to cope with everything they are experiencing. Others completely withdraw from society and family. Covid-19 has increased anxiety for many of us and many people will be left with mental health problems that outlast the pandemic. The psychologists also stressed that the unprecedented nature and scale of the coronavirus crisis adds an additional layer of uncertainties on individuals due to job losses or strained finances, isolation and loneliness. Thus leading to psychosocial dilemmas being amplified. Also, teaching in the age of COVID-19, so many students have found new ways to continue learning in this challenging time however, countless youth were forced to put their education on hold due to abrupt school shutdowns, sudden financial constraints and multiple loss of love ones within such a short time period leading to psychosocial dysfunction. More generally, learning time also dropped and quality of education has decreased from pre-pandemic norms in many schools across the country. Edwina Mensah-Husselmann also noted that stress and social isolation also raised the risk of domestic violence within a dysfunctional household. Violence in the home can lead to adverse health, social and mental health outcomes, including a higher risk of chronic disease, depression, PTSD, and risky sexual and substance use behaviours. To add to the tension, children are also experiencing their own stress and uncertainty about the pandemic, the irregular disruption in school attendance and the escape schoolwork provided increased stress levels for children and parents, says the psychologist. It causes a reduction in emotional/physical/economic security of the families particularly in children. The clinical psychologist alluded that “Take Care of your Body- Experts have found that taking care of your body can boost your ability to deal with stress, solve problems, think flexibly, and even fight disease. Taking care of your body mentally, emotionally, physically, and through creating joy and satisfaction is an important part of living with or without a mental health condition”. Mindfulness coping strategies such as a healthy lifestyle, self-care, exercise, meditation, relaxation, prayer and socialising through technology with family and friends. Also setting boundaries and taking time for oneself to decompress from the day are key. Establishing a daily routine to feel in control of the day and scheduling a “worrying time” to contain anxiety during a planned timeslot can help for having a healthy mind. Now more than ever, practicing self-care is essential when it comes to taking care of our emotional health and well-being, says Mensah-Husselmann. To face daily isolation and loneliness the psychologist recommends to stick to a daily routine: “this can help with a sense of order and purpose. Try to include regular daily activities, such as work, exercise or learning, and other healthy activities as needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Get enough sleep, eat well and exercise in your home when you are physically capable of doing so.” One of the hardest moments that people have to face during this pandemic is the fact of not being able to say a final goodbye to a loved one. For these situations “holding an online ceremony where family and friends come together over a video conference call to celebrate the life of their loved one” can be an interesting alternative to say goodbye when going to a burial is not possible, opines the clinical psychologist. A Drive-through Funeral or a Water Burial are considerable options. Complicated grief can cause dysfunctional behaviours and irrational thoughts, but Edwina believes that the most important thing “is not to suppress your sadness but to allow yourself to grief and to come to terms with the loss experienced. There is no right way to grief but acknowledging and expressing your feelings can help with the grieving process”. Use social media mindfully. Social media and other virtual tools allow us to connect with friends and family, but they can also have unintended consequences if and when using them becomes excessive or consuming. Use it intentionally and do take time to disconnect. If you’re feeling isolated, make a point to call a friend or family member occasionally rather than shoot out another text or Facebook comment. However, sometimes it is vital to seek professional guidance that helps to manage all these emotions. The psychologist advice that it is time to look for professional help when someone “is experiencing symptoms of complicated grief or clinical depression particularly if it starts to affect a person’s ability to functionally cope with their daily life. Clinical supportive care treatments can help manage the symptoms of avoidance of reminders of the loss, feelings of numbness, intense loneliness, meaninglessness or difficulty engaging in ongoing life to integrate the reality of loss and gradually return to living a healthy life. The therapist will guide the client through learning how to reconstruct their bond with their loved one rather than relinquishing it.” But what can we do to help family and friends that passed through that situation? Being aware of them, listening, validating their emotions, following up or praying are just some ways of being empathetic, compassionate and patient. Edwina believes in expressing interest, understanding and care can make a significant impact in the lives of love ones.     *This article was composed by María José Cano Paz (UNIC Namibia Intern) and Anthea Basson (UNIC National Information Officer) based on an interview with Clinical Psychologist Edwina Mensah-Husselmann.

The virtual dialogues commenced on 29 July and ended on 16 August, encompassed nine unique sessions with various thematic topics all meant to cross-examine how Namibia can move towards achieving more inclusive and sustainable food systems. Over 500 participants from diverse backgrounds, including members of the public and stakeholders from both the private and public sectors such as parastatals, higher education institutions, regulatory bodies, research institutions, financial institutions, non-governmental organizations, amongst others, joined in the Dialogues. Noteworthy dialogues include the inaugural dialogue held under the theme: “Production systems and environmental sustainability in Namibia”, during which close to 150 participants engaged in conversations around identifying best approaches for food agricultural practices while ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the environment. This was later followed by another equally thought-provoking dialogue held under the theme, “Mitigating issues for food systems transformation and building nutritional, social and economic resilience” in which participants strongly highlighted the need to consider agriculture as being much more than just the production of raw materials. Calls were later made by participants to shift focus towards critical issues hampering the sector from reaching its full potential such as climate change, lack of value addition and agro processing, and minimal investment in the sector. “Food Production, Consumption, and Processing Systems in Namibia: Fostering Sustainable, Healthy, Accessible and Nutritious diets” is another thematic area of focus that formed part of the wider Dialogues during which participants dissected the main problems affecting production, consumption and processing within the country’s local food systems. Issues such as high cost of basic food items, high unemployment and poverty rate hunger were identified. Solutions presented by participants to counter these issues included the need to improve markets, infrastructure and institutions, promote food systems as fertile grounds for income generation and economic expansion etc., as some of the ways to bolster food production and promote access to healthy and nutritious diets. A day thereafter, the Regional Consultations on Food Systems Dialogues, were held under the theme “Fostering sustainable diets, equitable livelihoods, and nature positive production in Namibia,” and saw the participation of various dignitaries and representatives including regional governors, councilors, traditional leaders and community based organizations. The discussions emanating from the regional consultations brought many pressing issues to the fore, including regional food security, improved nutrition, youth engagement in agriculture, and increased agricultural productivity in all the 14 regions of Namibia. The consensus reached amongst the participants was that more needs to be done to transform food systems within the regions to bolster food security and reduce the high levels of poverty amongst their populace. The private sector was also not left out of the equation as various prominent commercial entities such as Namib Mills and Namib Diaries all joined the dialogue that probed the role of the private sector in transforming food systems in Namibia. The entities acknowledged their role in transforming food systems in Namibia, mainly highlighting increased investment in the local sector as a means to stimulate growth. The National Food Systems Dialogues concluded with a high level dialogue that brought together Namibia civic organizations, NGOs, development partners, technical co-operations and UN agencies to interrogate how they can leverage partnerships and strategies for transforming food systems and accelerating the attainment of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). During his opening remarks, Percy Misika, MAWLR’s Executive Director, thanked all the participants for availing their time and expertise to help Namibia in moving towards securing a future that has robust and resilient food systems and is free from hunger and poverty. In the same vein, Sen Pang, the UN Resident Coordinator in Namibia, who provided the background on the UN Food Systems Summit, highlighted that the transformation of agri-food systems is no longer a matter of choice but is rather a matter of necessity as it becomes increasingly vital for governments to safeguard people’s lives and livelihoods. The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, as the appointed National Convenor in the office of the Prime Minister, together with the United Nations in Namibia, led and coordinated the National Food Systems Dialogues. The discussions emanating from the Dialogues will mainly be used to produce a final country position paper on Namibia’s Food Systems to enable her participation in the UN Global Food System Summit set to take place on 23 September 2021.

The expression “Not being able to see the wood for the trees” according to the Cambridge English Dictionary, means that you are unable to understand a situation clearly because you are too involved. Well, here at the National Planning Commission (NPC) we have decided to make sure that this mistake does not befall us. We are tasked at the Commission, at the behest of the Office of the President, to roll out the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030. A hugely important multi-year and very challenging project. With a whopping 17 different Goals to fulfil, it would be a tall order to target, execute and achieve all of them at the same time. NPC is therefore taking a more pragmatic approach. The choice has been made to focus on a few specific goals, as they will act as a flywheel or catalyst to achieve the other 12 goals in the coming years. The SDG’s being focused on are: 1: No Poverty 8: Decent work and economic growth 10: Reduced inequalities 16: Peace, justice and Strong institutions 17: Partnerships for Goals It is essential that we eradicate poverty before we can even hope to achieve any of the other goals. Poverty lies at the root of most problems, and the more people we can lift out of poverty, the more we can thrive as a nation. Fundamentally it is based upon the principle of Leave No One Behind. The sooner we uplift the poorest of the poor out of poverty the sooner we can develop into a more equal society for everyone. Inter-connected The inter-connectedness of the SDGs becomes apparent when we look at the next SDG to focus on Number 8: ‘decent work and economic growth. If this can be realised, by development, entrepreneurship and working together and investments, it means more people will find work, will be able to make a living and contribute to our economic growth, which in turn is a driver for ‘no poverty’. NPC works together with its partners, both in the public and private sectors. One of the major partners is the German Development Corporation (GIZ), which assists with know-how and people such as myself and a host of expert colleagues who are passionate about making the UN SDGs a reality. One that is very close to my heart as a mother, grandmother and as a woman looking to better our position within society, is SDG 10; Reduced Inequalities. We must all be able to start life from a position of equality; reducing these inequalities, and eradicating inequality based on gender, race, religion or sexual preference. This creates a nation that gives everyone a fair shot at life. All development activities and attempt to fulfil the SDGs will be irrelevant if SDG 16 is not embraced. Having peace, justice and strong institutions in a country is essential. It is the cornerstone of every democratic nation that is focused on socio-economic growth for its people. Experts work together with local institutions to create solid and fair mechanism for people to pay tax, have a transparent, strong and independent judiciary for example. The Namibian nation needs to know it can count on its government and institutions. It goes without saying that none of us can prosper without peace! Finally, the Partnership for Goals or SDG 17 as it is known, highlights the importance of global macroeconomic stability and international investment to developing countries, as well as through strengthened domestic capacities for revenue collection. This doesn’t sound very exciting, but without a fair and proper tax structure and people paying their fair share, it would be impossible to invest in the country. This does not mean that Namibia, government and other organisations are ignoring the other 12 SDGs, but if we achieve these five SDGs it will be so much easier to implement the others in the coming years. Which is of course the ultimate goal by 2030. *Wilhencia Uiras is the Executive Director of the National Planning Commission. This is an opinion piece written by Wilhencia Uiras. This article is also available at Windhoek Express website here. 

The articles that I have recently penned regarding poverty have all focused on facts, figures and statistics. I was looking at the causes of poverty, and trying to explain that there are many facets or dimensions to poverty. One thing I want to avoid with all my heart is to just talk about the problems and challenges of poverty without engaging on possible solutions. Pointing out flaws and issues is easy, being able to give tangible ideas and solutions to help fix issues and eradicate drivers of poverty is where the mammoth task lies. Hopefully as a nation, we are ready to take on this major task and tackle poverty on every level and facet as a collective effort. We can help fulfil almost every Namibian’s dream of having their own proper house with modern sanitation.  One of the major factors of poverty is lack of decent housing and sanitation. It acts as a driver to so many indicators of poverty. Abraham Maslow wrote about this in his 1943 paper “A theory of Human Motivation’ about the Pyramid of Needs, the most basic of which for humans to survive are the basic physiological needs. These are fairly apparent, especially if you look at your own life. They include the things that are vital to our survival. Some examples of physiological needs include food, breathing and homeostasis. This really is the bare minimum that we need to survive, and not really what we can or should be aiming for as a nation. We need to be able to provide every person in Namibia with these needs and more. This means that Namibians have housing; and it has to be something more than a roof or wall made of rudimentary or make-shift materials. Having a solid house with a roof gives us a level of security against the elements, self-respect and ability to fend for ourselves. The need for water is such that we cannot demand anything less than modern plumbing and sanitation. The pandemic has shown us how vital good sanitation is. This means that it is not a pump or single tap or toilet shared with other households, as the United Nations SDG 6 goal stipulates when talking about ‘clean water and sanitation’.   It seems obvious that housing and sanitation will lead to less poverty, but the impact that housing and sanitation have is immeasurable. They contribute to decreasing other levels and indicators of poverty. Having shelter, having electricity and sanitation mean that education improves, and so does hygiene, leading to less diseases and infections. Covid-19 has shown us and the world how essential the need for proper access to modern sanitation for everyone is. No part of the population is safe if we are not all safe. Another very motivating factor for providing housing and sanitation is that it will positively impact Namibia. An educated populace that is free from disease and infections is a socio-economic catalyst for positive change.  If we truly want to tackle poverty, not just one aspect of poverty, we need to work together; not just assume the Government will simply provide houses. We need to collectively work in Public- Private Partnerships to see how we can most easily and swiftly overcome the housing and sanitation challenges that Namibia faces.  This means that access to land, ownership of housing and land as well as using local materials and know-how to create housing and develop sanitation, are essential. We need to rely on ourselves as a nation to be able to effectively combat the housing and sanitation challenges and dimensions of poverty that we face. We need to declare housing a human right, and we need to look at new ways of financing housing so that it is in reach of more people; not just the happy few. We need to continue with the projects in the housing sector that have borne fruit, and organisations like the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) need to continue to be stimulated. The positive change will be swift and very visible. Its impact will play a major part in eradicating major drivers of poverty.  This is an opinion article written by Dr. John Steytler in his personal capacity as an economist. This article is also available at New Era Live website here.