By William Mbangula Oshakati When businessman, David Imbili, mooted the idea of establishing a private health facility in the populous North some 11 years ago, many people were sceptical and pessimistic about the viability and sustainability of the project. Looking back now, some of his detractors could not believe it when they saw the sprawling facility fully operational and rendering essential services. In his first attempt to realize his dream, which was warmly received, Imbili approached one of the new graduates, Dr Tshali Ithete – now the current managing director of the N$46-million Ongwediva Medipark – to brainstorm on the dream. The first step the duo took was to approach the Ongwediva Town Council to ascertain whether or not land was available for the project. The council assured them that land was indeed available, and the hospital facility was one of the envisaged objectives in the five-year strategic plan of the town. Imbili, who is the founding Chairperson of the Ongwediva Medipark (OMP), told the inaugural gathering: “We then concluded that if we were going to achieve any successful implementation of our plan, we would have to engage the participation of a strategic partner already involved in the running of such facilities in a win-win partnership. We initially approached both Afrox Health and Netcare in South Africa to assess their appetite for either of the two establishing one in Namibia. Both these establishments declined.” Imbili confessed that, at the time, they were naÃÆ’Æ‘Æ‘ÃÆ”šÃ‚¯ve by overlooking the available talent in Namibia which could also be utilized rather than wait for outsiders to do it. Having realized this, Imbili and Ithete decided to enlarge the composition of the team by bringing in more Namibians as part of the technical and financial implementation plan of the project. The team was then enlarged with the coming-on-board of the SADC consultant headed by Brunhilde Barnard, described by some of her colleagues as one of the most hardworking and dedicated financial wizards of the country. Moving further to consolidate the Namibianization of the project, the Erongo Medical Services (EMS) in Walvis Bay was brought on board as a technical partner. Having established themselves in the field of medical services in Erongo Region and with success in helping the establishment of the Indira Ghandi health facility at Onemanya in Omusati Region, EMS was of great assistance in the venture. The Indira Ghandi health facility was sponsored by the Founding Father of the Namibian Nation, Dr Sam Nujoma. Again the team decided to add more impetus to the project by initiating a smart public-private partnership with the Ongwediva Town Council as shareholders in the project. Other shareholders who joined from the medical fraternity included the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) which has over 32 laboratories countrywide. It has not only become a direct investor in the facility, but has also occupied its new laboratory on the hospital premises. Having found potential shareholders, the pioneers of Ongwediva Medipark went further to seek financial assistance from institutions which were prepared to provide it on good terms. Such assistance was granted by Old Mutual through its Asset management Division, Midina Fund, which resulted in the unlocking of the project. The pioneers of the project applaud the move by Old Mutual. They believe that had it not been for their assistance, the project would still be a pipedream. Nedbank Namibia is also one of the key players in this venture, especially with relation to the equipment currently being used at the hospital. Highly sophisticated medical equipment required for delivering quality health care is available at the hospital, obtained through the assistance of the Genmed and Bio Dinamics in Windhoek. Again the Stitching Medic has assisted greatly with the provision of medical furniture, instruments and linen all the way from Apeldoorn in Holland. The institution has also received assistance from Dr Solly Ntseke and partners, specialist radiologists from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, to set up a first-class radiology practice in Ongwediva Medipark. Such an investment will include the first other CT scanner being installed north of Windhoek. The X-ray department will be fully digitized, thereby allowing the hospital to send images anywhere in the world for interpretation purposes. This was done with the assistance of Siemens and the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN). Many people have commended the establishment of such a facility in Ongwediva because they felt it complements government efforts in health development and is in line with NDP2 and Vision 2030. They say that whereas the government has embarked on the policy of decentralization, the private health care industry is still highly centralized with over-capitalization in Windhoek. Most of the rural areas, including rapidly growing semi-urban areas, still lack basic medical services. Such a scenario, it is said, forces the people to travel at great cost to both employers and themselves. Speaking at the inauguration of the hospital recently, one of the technical shareholders, Mathias Braune, the managing director of EMS, appealed to the private sector to realize its responsibility of assisting the government in achieving its goals as enshrined in the NDP2 and Vision 2030. He said that with the construction of the private hospital, the private sector has made significant economic and social investment that can contribute greatly towards alleviating the pressure on the government. He noted: “Today, we are delivering a first-class facility to the medical fraternity of the north. Today, we are delivering a medical one-stop centre to the local communities. Today you need to make this development your own.” New Era was informed that the health facility has made its impact on the health front since it opened its doors to the public in November 2006. Proud and living up to its motto, “Quality Care, by People who Care”, the centre has treated 4ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 000 patients including Caesarean sections, the first of which took place on November 21 last year. About 13 doctors, some of them recent arrivals from South Africa, 83 nurses and 55 institutional workers are employed at the health centre. The first and only private hospital with 50 beds and two operating beds has recently become the first health facility in Namibia to sign an agreement with the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA) whereby the cost of treating survivors of road accidents will be incurred by the MVA. The move was lauded by President Hifikepunye Pohamba when he inaugurated the hospital recently.