By:Annakleta Haikera
The soon to be constructed N$1 million maternity ward at the Rupara Health Centre has been welcomed by women in the Kavango West region, saying it will rescue mothers from being transported to nearby hospitals and from losing newborn babies.
The Development Bank of Namibia on Friday announced the sponsorship.
Martha Muronga, a resident at Rupara and mother of four, told The Villager that women at her village have been having problems with the maternity ward because it only accommodates two individuals and if there is more, the women are forced to deliver in other wards.
“The hospital does not provide any food for women who have just given birth. This is because the hospital doesnot have a kitchen. The centre doesnot admit patients unless you are in a critical condition, in which case you will still be transported to Rundu hospital. I know of two mothers that have lost their babies due to not been attended to on time, and there was just no room for them to deliver their babies,” Muronga said.
The region’s directorate of health and social services reports that Rupara Health Centre has a population of 7551 and conducts delivery on a daily basis with an average of 22 babies being born at the facility during a busy month.
It further indicated that Rupara does not have an in-patient department for now, and that deliveries of babies are being done in normal rooms, whereas critical cases are referred to either Nankudu Hospital or Rundu.
Jerome Mutumba, spokesperson of DBN said that, “the DBN will fund the construction of the maternity ward at Rupara Health Centre through their corporate social responsibility for community safety and health management programme.”

The region’s directorate of health office submitted a proposal to the DBN in July 2022 for the project. The consultation started in September.
Kavango West governor Sirkka Ausiku earlier this year identified projects within the region to benefit from the Development Bank of Namibia co-operate social investment project. A concept proposal was forwarded to DBN by the office of the Governor for consideration and was approved.