Healthcare news from across Southern Africa

Chongwe District Health Office director Dr Mweene Nseluke has been convicted on 10 counts of failing to declare conflicts of interest involving contracts worth more than K300,000. The court imposed fines totalling K330,000 on 19 October. Prosecutors established that Nseluke approved payments involving a company in which he held an interest. The contract concerned the servicing and repair of Health Ministry vehicles. Zambia's Anti-Corruption Commission said public officials must disclose financial interests and comply with procurement requirements.

Namibia's Health Minister Esperance Luvindao has confirmed that no illnesses have been reported following the precautionary recall of a batch of Nestlé NAN Special Pro HA infant formula. The recall followed the detection of cereulide, a toxin produced by Bacillus cereus, in finished products that had not been distributed from a manufacturing facility in the Netherlands. Luvindao told Parliament that the recall was precautionary but warranted particular attention because infants are vulnerable to foodborne illness. The development highlights the importance of pharmaceutical and nutritional-product quality surveillance.

Residents of Vuvulane have accused a security guard at a government clinic of possessing medicines suspected of having been removed from the facility. Community members reportedly recovered a 10-litre container of medication, some allegedly repackaged for sale. Health Minister Mduduzi Matsebula said he would establish whether the allegations were being investigated. The incident follows earlier findings of weaknesses in medicine procurement and inventory management, including parliamentary concerns about approximately E110 million in expired medical stock. The allegations remain unproven.