ONGWEDIVA – The construction of the long-awaited maternity ward at Onandjokwe Hospital is nearing completion.
This was revealed by Oshikoto regional health director Joshua Nghipangelwa in an interview with New Era. He said the construction commenced in 2016, but it was delayed because of the challenges faced by the contractor.
The contractor has refused to answer questions from this reporter when approached for comment in 2023. The maternity ward, which is set to be one of the largest in the country, will accommodate 120 beds. Nghipangelwa stated that the facility is being constructed at a cost of N$60 million.
Onandjokwe Hospital delivers about 700 babies monthly. On average, 7 668 babies are delivered at Onandjokwe annually.
This has prompted the 70-bed extension at the maternity ward.
“Since last year, the hospital has contracted the defence-owned company, August 26 Construction, to finalise the project,” Nghipangelwa stated.
He assured that the new contractor is on track to meet the set completion deadline of October 2025.
The director added that, once completed, the maternity ward will feature two operating theatres, a high-care unit for mothers and newborns, as well as a dedicated emergency department.
The ward is expected to significantly increase the hospital’s capacity to handle births. Nghipangelwa highlighted progress at the Omuthiya District Hospital, where the construction of a patient waiting area is nearly complete.
The waiting area is being built at a cost of N$400 000. “This waiting area is very important, as it will protect patients from standing in the sun while waiting for medical services,” he said.
He noted that the waiting area will be equipped with chairs, allowing patients to sit while waiting in line.
Additionally, Nghipangelwa stated that the Omuthiya District Hospital has been equipped with water tanks to store water during supply interruptions at the town.
“Recently, the hospital faced water challenges whenever there were supply cuts in town, but this issue has now been resolved,” he added.
He further reported that renovations at the Tsintsabis clinic have been successfully completed this year. Nghipangelwa said the waiting ward had been renovated after his directorate allocated funds.
The ward accommodates expecting mothers from remote areas during their final trimester so that they have easy and faster access to the hospital during their time of labour.
“The current ward could not accommodate many women because it is too small. On a daily basis, expectant women come in huge numbers,” he added.
The waiting ward helps many women who live far from the hospital because they do not have to travel long distances during uterine contractions.
Nghipangelwa has, however, expressed concern over the increasing number of malaria cases in the region, which remain a major public health challenge.