A recent three-day medical outreach programme has brought relief to hundreds of residents in the Outapi area.
A total of 678 people received free medical services during the Omusati medical campaign, which concluded last Friday.
The initiative targeted underserved communities, delivering essential healthcare directly to villages through outreach points set up at government schools and a local youth centre.
The campaign, spearheaded by Dune Seven Medical Centre under the leadership of Dr Elifas Shapumba, in collaboration with the Walvis Bay Corridor Group and One Economy Foundation, focused on improving access to basic healthcare services while promoting prevention and early detection.
Residents who attended the outreach benefitted from a wide range of services, including HIV testing, general medical consultations and reproductive health counselling for adolescents, as well as screenings for blood sugar, haemoglobin levels, weight and certain cancers.
For many in the community, the outreach marked a rare opportunity to access medical care without travelling long distances.
Omusati governor Immanuel Shikongo described the campaign as a practical example of how healthcare services should be delivered.
“Healthcare accessibility should not be considered a luxury but a necessity,” he said.
He added that prevention through health education and regular screenings remains critical in addressing health challenges at an early stage.
Shapumba said the campaign is aimed at closing the gap between healthcare providers and underserved communities.
“We seek to offer free screening and treatment alongside education on preventive measures so that health problems can be detected early, reducing pressure on hospitals,” he said.
He noted that the Omusati outreach is the third of its kind, following similar campaigns conducted in Erongo and Oshana in 2022 and 2023.
He added plans are underway to expand the initiative to other regions as more support is secured.
“Several health conditions were identified, with more serious cases referred to government health facilities for further treatment,” he added.
Chief programme officer Jonas Taddeus said such initiatives complement government efforts, particularly in areas such as HIV prevention, maternal health and early disease detection.
Beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the initiative, noting that it helped address long-standing challenges in accessing healthcare services.