07/09/2023
Your Legacy shall live on Mr. Puumue👣👣
Celebrating the Legacy of Mr. Puumue Jefta Katjiuanjo in Public Health 1958-2021
By Gabriel Joseph, Kekango ya Kakehongo and Christian Winter
In commemoration of World Field Epidemiology Day, we take a moment to honour the remarkable legacy of the late, Puumue Katjiuanjo, for his tireless efforts to advance field epidemiology and public health in Namibia and the region.
This year's World Field Epidemiology Day theme, "Increasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Field Epidemiology," perfectly encapsulates Mr. Katjiuanjo's lifelong dedication to promoting good values in public health.
Katjiuanjo was born in Omaheke region on 26 June 1958. His journey in public health began as a young Environmental Health Practitioner, graduating from Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 1986.
He further obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Wales in 1990, and a Master of Science Degree in Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 1999.
His passion for epidemiology soon led him to pursue a career dedicated to the prevention and control of diseases.
As a prominent advocate for public health, Mr. Katjiuanjo worked tirelessly for more than 30 years in Public Health at local, regional and national level in Namibia.
Through the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, and together with his colleagues, he spearheaded the implementation of crucial Public Health services in Namibia such as the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response and Epidemic Preparedness and Response, the National Health Information System and the creation of the Health Information and Research Directorate at the Ministry of Health and Social Services, amongst others.
He also played a pivotal role in establishing the Namibian Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (Nam-FELTP), alongside other dedicated individuals.
The Nam-FELTP is a program to train “disease detectives” to study the spread of infectious diseases or any public health event, with the goal of understanding the cause of a situation, helping to develop and where relevant implement actions to contain outbreaks, and to make recommendations for preventing future recurrences.
The program provides rigorous training to public health professionals and others from diverse backgrounds, promoting inclusivity within the field.
Through the Ministry of Health and Social Services, in partnership with stakeholders, and under his leadership, this program went from strength to strength and has contributed to an increase in well-trained “disease detectives” to support public health emergency preparedness and response.
In addition to the well-established frontline and advanced FELTPs, plans for an intermediate FELTP are at an advanced stage.
Katjiuanjo believed in the vision of the Ministry of Health and Social Services to establish a Namibia Public Health Institute and this vision continues to be a goal for the Ministry
Diversity, equity, and inclusion were not just buzzwords for Katjiuanjo; they were principles that he embedded and advanced in the very core of his work.
He believed that a diverse epidemiological workforce representing different sectors (e.g., human health, animal health, environmental health) could better understand and address the unique health challenges faced by different communities. It was amazing to see how good he was at bringing people together. His efforts in mentorship and capacity-building programs empowered countless individuals to pursue careers in field epidemiology.
Like many others between early 2020 and his death in June 2021, he focused his energy on the Covid-19 response in Namibia while still maintaining a vision for the broader picture and long-term needs of public health planning.
He was crucial in supporting the management of the recently established Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, and many other areas of the national Covid-19 response.
He used his long-term experience and his national and international relationships to mobilise support for his country.
In his memory, the Namibian public health community continues to work tirelessly to advance his vision and passion in the field. On this World Field Epidemiology Day, we remember and honour Katjiuanjo for his exceptional contributions and his tireless efforts to enhance public health.
We are grateful for his heroic contributions and inspired by his example as we strive to strengthen public health security in Namibia and beyond.
