By Kuvee Kangueehi Gobabis The Governor of the Omaheke Region Laura McLeod yesterday morning welcomed a delegation from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social and Community Development that is on a visit to the region. McLeod said the visit by the parliamentary committee was vital, as it would give Namibian lawmakers a first hand account of the situation in the region. Speaking to the New Era after the committee paid a courtesy call to her office, McLeod said the committee is expected to visit schools, hospitals and clinics in the region during the weeklong tour. “The committee will concentrate on the health and education situation in the region in the different constituencies.” She noted that during the courtesy call, she alerted them of the serious human resource shortage in the region. “We have a serious human resource shortage especially in the health sector where we only have five doctors stationed at the Gobabis State Hospital and who are expected to attend to the 68 000 residents of the region.” She added that because of such shortage, other resources such as fuel and transport are depleted sooner than expected. The governor further noted that the parliamentary committee will also check whether funds allocated to the regions have been used for the allocated purpose. “If we in the last budget requested money for renovations of schools or hospitals, they would like to see such renovations.” She noted that the committee will also interact with the community, as well as speak to school boards and traditional authorities. “The visit is not to government officials but all stakeholders in the society and they will visit the Maherero Royal House when they go to Otjinene.” McLeod said one of the critical areas the committee will look at is school hostels. “They will visit the hostels to see how they are maintained and renovated and under what conditions school children live.” The parliamentary committee which is headed by Swapo Parliamentarian Elia Kaiyamo yesterday visited schools and the Gobabis State Hospital. They are expected to visit Leonardville and Aminuis today. The committee will go to Otjombinde on Wednesday before visiting Epukiro and Otjinene. At the end of their visit in the Omaheke Region, the committee will meet the director of Education in the region as well as the Health Management of the Omaheke Region. It will then head for the Hardap Region on a similar mission. Members of Parliament, who are on recess have been visiting different regions during the past weeks. The Speaker of the National Assembly Theo-Ben Gurirab visited the Karas and Hardap regions earlier, while the Deputy Speaker Dorika Sioka is presently touring the Okavango and Caprivi regions.