OUTAPI – Pregnant women camping outside the Outapi District Hospital in the Omusati Region have called on authorities to prohibit Angolan farmhands from camping on their site.
Expectant mothers disturbed by the unwelcome farmhands told New Era recently that they are unhappy that groups of Angolan men looking for odd jobs have joined them at the camping site.
Because of long distances from home, these pregnant women camp outside the hospital for months before their due dates.
The surroundings however have become an eyesore not only for the women at the campsite, but also to the rest of the community that passes by and pose a serious health hazard.
Last week’s heavy rains that flooded the makeshift maternity camp worsened the situation.
The women’s bedding and clothes were soaked and the whole area was wet, compelling some of the women to sleep under trees exposing them to weather elements such as rain and wind.
The expectant mothers also complained about swarms of mosquitos that infest the makeshift camping site.
Of the campsite intruders, one of the expectant mothers said: “We are no more comfortable with the men that are camping with us. We are waiting to deliver our babies. This place has now turned into a location because these men have no respect.”
Young, expectant mothers from nearby rural areas said they did not bring their families along but there are men from Angola that have decided to camp at the hospital while searching for piecework.
These men and women camping with the expectant women allegedly wake up as early as 05h00 to go and work in the nearby mahangu fields, where they are employed as farm labourers.
“When they wake up in the morning they make a lot of noise that disturbs our sleep,” moaned another expectant mother.
Both men and women wake up early in the morning and leave behind their children.
Apparently, most women have small babies aged from four to six months and there are numerous toddlers aged two to three years old.
Although the men stay in their own tents or sleep in the open while waiting to be hired, there are no ablution facilities at the site, forcing them to relieve themselves close to the expectant mothers’ tents.
“Those couples are more than 30, if you come here in the night or in the early hours of the morning you will see them bathing in the open space,” said one of the mothers angered by the invasion.
After knocking off the men allegedly go to cucashops to consume alcohol and when they return they play loud music.
The expectant mothers allege that most of these men start arguing with their partners while some even fight them.
Approached for comment, the CEO of Outapi Ananias Nashilongo said unfortunately there is no one controlling the site because the Ministry of Health and Social Services cannot take care of the pregnant women saying they are not patients.
Nashilongo said the Governor of Omusati Sophia Shaningwa has constructed a small building with the help of the Ombalantu Traditional leadership that donated N$50 000, Namport donated N$500 000 and prominent Namibian businessman Martin Shipanga donated N$30 000.
He said Shaningwa has also approached the Ambassador of Turkey to Namibia Deniz Çakar to help the region build a proper structure for the women, and the ambassador responded positively.
“There is a community committee that includes representatives of the Outapi Town Council, the Omusati Regional Council, the Ombalantu Traditional Authority and health professionals. Once the proper structure has been completed, these members will control the area so that the problem will be rectified,” said Nashilongo.