Namibia’s infant mortality rate rises

Statistician-General, Alex Shimuafeni, has reported a concerning rise in the country’s infant mortality rate from 49 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 54 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2021. The increase is attributed to communicable, perinatal, and nutritional conditions. The Namibia Press Agency reports that more than half of the infant deaths were males, and the Oshana and Omaheke regions recorded the highest number of infant deaths in 2021.