The Health Services Division forms part of the Department of Economic Development and Community. We aspire to be recognized as a forerunner in attaining excellence in the services we provide. This is our commitment to the facilities we regulate, the general public and our customers in order to enhance the quality of health in the City.

The Health Services Division enforces the Public Health Act 36 of 1919 and all the health regulations promulgated in accordance with the Ac, namely:

• General Health Regulation GN 121 of 14/10/1969.
• Offensive Trade Regulations GN 141 of 10/11/1926
• Regulations Relating to the Standards of Food, Drugs and Disinfectants of 10/12/1968.
• Municipality of Windhoek Health Regulations GN 285 of 1952.

To achieve the above mentioned commitment, The Health Service Division has the following Operational Objectives:

• To monitor and control all business activities,
• To prevent and control communicable and non-communicable diseases,
• To ensure safe food and water,
• To ensure a clean and safe environment,
• To monitor and control Occupational and Hygiene matters, and;
• To implement the Windhoek Healthy Cities Program and related special projects.

The above mentioned operational objectives are focused on the following organizational thrusts:

• Health Environment and Waste Management.
• Improve internal and external communication.
• Promotion of the Windhoek Cities Image.
• Promotion of Tourism and Economic Development.
• Broadening the revenue base.

There are five important areas for these operational objectives namely:

1. Business Registration and Finance
2. Environmental Health, Meat and Dairy Control Section
3. Environmental Health and Pest Control
4. Healthy Cities & Special Projects
5. Occupational Health and Safety

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Business Registration and Finance Section

The core function of this Section is to ensure that all businesses that operate within the City of Windhoek are registered and that they comply with regulations set out in GN 202 of 2006, which is a gazetted mandate.

1. Registering your business

The processes of registering your business are as follows:

• Identification documentation:
  • Documents that are required for the registration of a business are as follows:
    The business owner’s identification document, in the case of a non-Namibian, a valid work permit or work visa will be required. Please note; only the original ID or work permit/ visa will be accepted. Our Business Registration Officers will make a photocopy of the original document which will be kept on file at the City of Windhoek. The original will be returned to you.
• A Town Planning Certificate
  • A Town Planning Certificate (for a business operating from a business zoned erf) or letter of consent for a business operating from a residential area is required.  These documents are obtained from Urban Planning Division in the Customer Care Centre.

• The application form for the registration of a business must be completed and included in the pack of documentation handed in at the City of Windhoek’s Business Registration Counter in the Customer Care Centre.
• An inspection of the premises from which you intend doing business will be done approximately 10 days after the application, with its supporting documentation, has been submitted.
• A Certificate of Fitness will be issued for the business premises once the application has been approved and payment has been made at the City of Windhoek.
• The Certificate of Fitness is valid for one year only and must be renewed on an annual basis. The issuing of a renewed Certificate of Fitness is dependent on a follow up inspection.
• Where the holder of a Certificate of Fitness/Registration ceases to conduct the business for which such certificate is issued, he or she must within one (1) month from the date of ceasing to conduct such business, inform the Registration Officer (in writing) of such cessation and must submit the certificate of Fitness/Registration to the Business Registration Officer for cancellation. Contravention of the above will result in a N$ 2000.00 fine or 6 months imprisonment.

2. Complaints

• Complaints that are received from our residents are mostly concerning health and environmental issues. All complaints should be directed to the Administrative Support Services Officer of the Health Services Division on telephone number 061 290 2594.
• All complaints received get passed onto the relevant section and Environmental Health Practitioners within the City of Windhoek and an investigation is launched to deal with the complaint.
• Upon completion of the investigation, the findings will be communicated to the complainant.
• The City of Windhoek guarantees the anonymity of all complainants.

3. Meat Permits

• Meat permits are issued to clients (mostly farmers from outside of the Windhoek City limits) to bring meat into the city. These permits are valid only for domestic farm animals, not game.
• Permits are valid for a period of three days and are for personal consumption only, not for reselling.
• A maximum of three carcasses (for example goat and sheep) is allowed or one carcass of beef per person per permit.
• For clients wishing to bring game into the city limits, permits are issued at the State Veterinary Services at www.mawf.gov.na

Application requirements for meat permits:

• Applicant’s name and surname
• The identity number of the applicant
• The applicant’s residential address
• Telephone numbers of the applicant
• The name of the farm from which the meat is being brought
• The district in which the farm is situated and the farm number
• The farm owner’s name
• The registration number of the vehicle carrying the carcass/es
• The intended use of the meat
• The type of meat brought into the City limits
• The number of carcasses
• The date of entry into Windhoek.
• The above is also valid for persons transporting meat through Windhoek into other areas of Namibia.

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Environmental Health: Meat and Dairy Control Section

The Meat and Dairy Control Section is responsible for enforcing legislation relating to:

• Meat hygiene
• Dairy – milk and milk products, and;
• Mineral/ bottled water safety.

Enforcing their mandate, inspectors at this section conduct regular meat inspections at the abattoir within the city limits. They conduct pre-mortems on livestock and post mortems on carcasses to ensure meat safety before it is sold to end consumers.
Inspectors also conduct regular inspections of the dairy farms outside Windhoek to ensure that they conform to the highest standards of milk processing and operate within legislative guidelines regarding the production processes involving the supply of milk and milk products.

All bottling plants are inspected to ensure that they comply with legislation governing the production of bottled water and water safety before it enters the city limits.

The Meat and Dairy Control Section adheres rigorously to the Hazardous And Critical Control Points (HACCP) protocol. It is the method of control utilised to ensure the highest standards of food safety at the source of the production of packaged goods and pertains to the milk and milk production and bottled water processes.

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Environmental Health and Pest Control Section

This section is responsible for enforcing legislation governing environmental health and the control of pests within the limits of the City of Windhoek. Included in its mandate is the control of animals, poultry and doves in residential areas as well as exotic animals that are kept as domestic pets.
Under its Environmental Health mandate, this section oversees:

• Environmental Health Pollution Control,
• A water sampling and testing programme,
• The inspection and approval of food and non-food related businesses,
• The inspection of informal markets,
• The inspection and approval of shebeens and home shops,
• The control of illegal dumping,
• The control of food preparation businesses by regularly:
• sampling and swabbing food; and,
• Testing cooking oil.

Under its Pest Control mandate, this section is responsible for the control of:

• Rodents,
• Termites,
• Doves,
• Cockroaches,
• Ticks,
• Wasps,
• Mosquitoes,
• Bees.

 Bees are relocated from residences to remote areas inside of the City boundaries at a fee.
The disinfection of household and businesses premises and pest control related activities are also done for our residents at a fee.
To report any incidences of environmental hazards and pests, please call the Complaints Department on 061 290 2594

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Healthy Cities and Special Projects Section

The Healthy Cities and Special Projects Section is responsible for the Health Profile of the City of Windhoek, which is regularly updated and placed on the website of the City and that of the World Health Organisation. The Section implements Special Projects that impact on public health and are active in creating the awareness of infectious diseases as well as monitoring and controlling the spread of it. At present, their efforts are focussed mainly on:

• Water and Sanitation,
• Orphans and Vulnerable Persons (OVPs),
• Assisting the Government of the Republic of Namibia with Primary Healthcare, and;
• HIV/ AIDS programmes in the City.

The Water and Sanitation Committee (WATSAN) is multisectoral and was established through the need identified by the Healthy City program.

Currently WATSAN is focussed on the challenges faced by the rapidly increasing rural to urban migration and the associated provision of municipal services. Currently, the need for municipal services is heavily outweighed by supply.

Current Activities:

• A dry sanitation pilot project, the Otji-toilet, was commissioned in Havana extensions 6 & 7 in June 2011. The geomorphology of the Havana settlement area does not allow for water-borne sanitation to be installed. A standard sized structure was developed and builders within the settlement areas were identified to construct these units. The mobilisation of the community was done six months ahead of the commencement of the pilot project.

• As the initiative is a multisectoral endeavour, the Health Services Division launched a Hygiene promotion campaign at the commissioning ceremony of the Otji-toilet pilot project.

In conjunction with the Community Development Division, this Section supports OVPs by making contributions to the three existing soup kitchens and children’s shelters under their care. Proceeds for this come mainly from the sale of T-Shirts on World AIDS Day every 1 December. Healthy Cities and Special Projects Section buys food on recommendation of the Community Development Division.
The Healthy Cities and Special Projects Division also assists with:

• Developing and executing an Emergency Health Strategy,
• The regular inspection of day care centres registered with the City of Windhoek,
• The registration of Medical Practices in the city limits,
• The promotion of hygiene in government buildings, and;
• Coordinate the Healthy Cities Initiatives for the City of Windhoek.

A major responsibility is implementing the HIV/ AIDS strategy for the City, using the following tactics:

• HIV/AIDS management in the workplace,
• Training and capacity building on HIV/ AIDS at large,
• HIV/ AIDS prevention through calendar programmes such as the World AIDS Day activities on 1 December,
• Community mobilisation in HIV/ AIDS programmes, and;
• The HIV/ AIDS Junior Council Project (link to Junior Council)

This Section also assists the Ministry of Health and Social Services in tracing tuberculosis interruptions, assists with immunisation programmes as well as with the management and control of outbreaks of disease.

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Occupational Health and Safety Section

The Occupational Health and Safety Section is an external programme managed within the City of Windhoek under the Health Services Division for the benefit of its residents. This Section is guided by the Labour Act and Regulations relating to the health and safety of all employees within the City limits.

The main function of this Section is to enforce legislation that governs:

• The control of occupational hazards at all workplaces,
• The regulation of heat, airflow, gases and vapours, dust, noise, illumination and vibration,
• Health and Safety promotion in the workplace through;
• Emphasising the use of protective clothing,
• Enforcing the correct and safe use of machinery, and;
• Effectively managing an "injury on duty" register.

This Section also enforces the regulations pertaining to the enforcement of ergonomics. This ensures that all people who work behind desks or operate machinery and heavy machinery, are safe at all times.

Inspectors from the Occupational Health and Safety Section regularly inspect factories, garages, workshops and building sites to ensure that regulations are being enforced. This Section is also involved in the registration of businesses and the approval of building plans.

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