KARIBIB – The groundwork for the construction of the N$120 million Karibib Health Centre is currently underway with completion plan earmarked for 2028.
The current centre only provides basic services and residents are expected to travel to Usakos for urgent care.
Navachab Gold Mine’s Corporate Communication Officer, McLyn Kasale, recently told New Era that phase zero includes underground work such as sewer and water connections, as well as the erection of a boundary fence.
“We are now putting up the fence to make sure the site is secure and that whatever is placed here does not disappear,” he said.
Kasale explained that the project will be completed in phases over a period of three years, with completion and handover to the State expected in 2028.
Phase one, which is expected to start around mid-April, will replicate services currently offered at the existing clinic in Karibib, with additional features such as a pharmacy.
Phase two, he says, will consist of an in-patient service, including beds, a kitchen, laundry facilities, a small theatre, while the final phase will include a mortuary, accommodation for nurses and doctors, as well as recreational facilities for staff.
“We want to focus on one phase per year. This year we are focusing on phase zero and phase one, next year phase two, and then phase three,” he said.
Kasale said the project was initially intended to be a vocational training school, but this changed after the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted gaps in healthcare services in the area.
“We realised that the Karibib district does not have a hospital that can serve the needs of the people. Residents must travel to Usakos, Omaruru or even Swakopmund for medical care,” he said.
He added that the health centre will be handed over to the government once completed, as it is intended to operate as a public facility.
Navachab Mine is the main sponsor of the project, while additional partners are expected to come on board to assist with completing certain aspects. The Karibib Town Council provided the land for the development at no cost.
Kasale said the project forms part of the mine’s corporate social responsibility, which focuses on long-term impact.
“We want to leave behind something tangible that will outlive the mine. This facility will benefit the community even after mining operations have ended,” he said.
Navachab Managing Director George Botshiwe earlier said that investing in local economies, especially where the mine is operating, is part of the mine’s commitment to reinvesting national resources back into communities.
Therefore, it is our responsibility not only to extract value but also to translate it into visible impact that builds livelihoods and a better future.
In addition, the mine is constructing a N$10.2 million SME park in Usakos and supporting education infrastructure, including the development of a science laboratory at a local school. They constructed a mortuary in Otjimbingwe, while also assisting local communities with water tankers there.
Community members in Karibib have expressed appreciation towards the generous investment from the mine, saying that it will save lives while also reducing travelling cost to Usakos for urgent care.