Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated inequitable access to medicines in sub-Saharan Africa, mainly due to limited capabilities for local manufacture. Aim: To describe priority medicine lists and critical skill sets required for an emergency compounding of COVID-19 medicines training programme. Methods: An evaluation of the COVID-19 emergency compounding readiness programme for the University of Namibia pharmacy graduates. The main outcomes were enhanced skill sets in compounding, quality control, and regulation of priority COVID-19 medicines. Data on outcomes were thematically analysed. Results: Fifty- eight pharmacy graduates demonstrated competence in emergency compounding, quality control, regulation, and provision of therapeutic information of COVID-19 medicines. A priority list and a skills set for emergency compounding of COVID-19 medicines were developed. Conclusions: The upskilling of pharmacy graduates on emergency compounding of COVID-19 medicines has the potential to address inequalities in the rapid response and control of epidemics.

An estimated 851 340 women in Namibia are at risk of human papilloma viral (HPV) infection that may cause cervical cancer. Visual screening with acetic acid (VIA) and cryotherapy have been proven highly effective. However, data associating with the impact of cervical cancer screening programmes lack. This study evaluated visual and cytology screening in preventing cervical intraepithelial lesions (CIN) and cervical cancer in Namibia. Findings showed that women with HPV, cervicitis, koilocytosis and atypia are at an increased risk of testing positive for VIA. Older women, particularly with HIV are more likely to be diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). VIA procedure seems to be viable in screening, although colposcopy in patient follow-up in the Namibian context should be revised and used with positive HR-HPV results. Screening modalities incorporating HPV testing for different ages and risk populations (e.g. HIV positive, autoimmune disease) is recommended. Screening uptake can further be improved by interventions that adopt a model which uses previous diagnostic outcomes, women’s health objectives, up-to-date knowledge and practice relevant to national context.