The minister of defence and veterans affairs, Frans Kapofi, has revealed that an amount of N$138 651 was paid towards war veterans’ medical assistance and counselling services this year.
Kapofi said this during the Ministry of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs Cabinet committee briefing in Windhoek last week.
“Veterans of the national liberation struggle whose health conditions resulted from their participation in the national liberation struggle are assisted with paying their medical expenses at all state health facilities,” he said.
The minister said if it is proven that the required treatment is not available at state health facilities, the ministry facilitates veterans’ treatment at private healthcare facilities.
“The ministry also provides counselling services to ensure veterans who have social and psychological problems receive the necessary psychosocial support,” he said.
Kapofi said this is usually done through the provision of individual, group or family counselling, as well as through a referral system to other professionals if need be.
“During the period under review, N$138 651 was paid towards medical assistance and counselling services,” the minister said.
In addition to medical assistance, Kapofi said war veterans are also assisted with individual projects to improve their livelihoods.
“All registered veterans qualify for funding for a project which has now been revised to cash payment of N$170 000,” he said.
Kapofi said the ministry has already paid 322 veterans in the past financial year.
“Before the end of this financial year the ministry is expected to pay another 425 veterans,” he said.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Currently, 18 291 veterans are receiving a monthly grant of N$2 200.
Kapofi said the former Robben Island and Kai //Ganaxab political prisoners, and the former People’s Liberation Army of Namibia combatants who were trained and deployed to the front line during the national liberation struggle are entitled to an improvement grant ranging from N$5 000 to N$7 000 per month.
He said 8 998 such veterans are currently receiving this benefit.
INTERNAL SECURITY
Kapofi said the Namibian Defence Force has maintained its deployments in the Zambezi region in areas such as Sangwali, Ngoma, Kapani, Kasika, Linyanti, Malegalenga and Liansulu combating illegal border crossing and other cross-border crimes.
He said the ministry has also provided assistance to other civil authorities and civil powers in the provision of relief in times of disaster.
“Notable are the successive assistance provided to the Office of the Prime Minister in the distribution of flood and drought relief aid,” Kapofi said.
The minister said 19 trucks and 38 drivers are currently committed to eight regions, assisting with the distribution of drought-relief aid.
INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS
Kapofi said the ministry has participated in several peace initiatives in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, as well as in the rest of the African continent.
“In the SADC region, we have maintained our deployment of seven officers with the SADC mission in Mozambique, while we are also actively involved in the planning process of the deployment of the SADC mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he said.
Elsewhere, the ministry has deployed 10 officers as either military observers or staff officers with the United Nations Interim Security Forces for Abyei and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
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