By: Lina Amutenya

Health minister Kalumbi Shangula has opened a new health facility at Okahao state hospital, on Friday.

The out-patient and casualty department was constructed at a cost of N$27 219 708.51, while the highly infectious disease facility was built to the tune of N$6 094 445.70.

These facilities have come with the necessary modern equipment and supplies to make them fully operational.

The event was attended by guests and locals who came to witness the milestone event which gave expansion to the health infrastructure in Okahao’s Omusati region.

The minister highlighted that several challenges were experienced which led to the delay in the completion of the Okahao hospital outpatient department, casualty and Covid-19 isolation facility.

Shangula said these included the non-performance of the initial contractor which led to the cancelation of the project, and a result a new contractor was hired on site to complete the works.

The contractor came on site in 2019 and completed the project in 2021.

Hospital staff members were also reminded to remain committed in ensuring a continuous improvement in their conduct, processes and procedures.

Services which are offered at this hospital include primary and secondary health care, general medical care, which covers internal medicine, paediatrics, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, dentistry, medical social services, ophthalmology services, radiological services, pharmaceutical services, medical emergency services and preventive and promotional health care.

“The construction of health facilities is set to contribute to the improvement of our public healthcare delivery system in the Omusati Region,” Shangula said.

He emphasized that members of the public who may feel that they are not being treated well at any health centers should seek for help and report to the head of facility.

Shangula also said that the ministry is working hard to provide affordable and accessible quality health care and social services.

So far, Namibia has gone through and survived several waves of Covid-19 which in different phases exerted pressure on limited health care infrastructure with some hospitals being over-run.

Most of Namibia’s infrastructure, inherited from the colonial times, stand dilapidated and in need of a facelift.

“I use this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the frontline workers, the doctors, nurses and all other health workers both in public and private sector who continue to selflessly give themselves over in order to serve the public for the support and cooperation as we were navigating through the minefield of Covid-19 pandemic, imposing drastic measures to contain the infection,”  said the minister.