Ondangwa
The Ministry of Health and Social Services is in the process of renovating the dilapidated Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital with modern infrastructure to enable it to operate as an intermediate hospital.
Renovations will include its casualty and outpatient departments.
“Previously there was no space at the outpatient waiting department and it was not good for ventilation or cross-infections. We have now moved the waiting space outside and expanded the rooms from four to eight,” said the health director in Oshikoto Region, Petrus Kefas Angala.
Speaking at the handover of three vehicles to the hospital on Wednesday, Angala said the ministry is currently mobilising resources to procure equipment to bring the hospital up to standard.
Angala said the transition of handing over the hospital to the government started last year. “We have relocated the two departments – we know the space that they are now operating from is very small but we are appealing to the staff and patients to be patient,” said Angala. The health ministry will thereafter also construct a modern maternity ward, paediatric section and renovate the accommodation facilities for student nurses. Also speaking at the handover the control administrative officer in Oshikoto, David Mulilo, appealed to the recipients to ensure the vehicles are serviced on time.
The vehicles will be distributed between Okankolo, Onayena and the Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital. Angala appealed for services to be taken to the people. He also wants the seasonal malaria outbreaks to be kept under control. According to Angala, Namibia is likely to face a malaria outbreak this year. He said the number of positive malaria cases recorded at the end of January beginning of February this year is high compared to previous years. He said the figures currently recorded are usually equivalent to the figures recorded at the end of April during the previous years. Angala appealed to people showing symptoms to seek treatment as soon as possible.
He also appealed for the use of repellents and mosquito nets.