WALVIS BAY – Health workers at Walvis Bay yesterday told a high-level government delegation they are understaffed and overworked due to the increasing Covid-19 infections at the harbour town. The health workers said they simply cannot cope with the intense and emotionally draining work of caring for patients, as both isolation and quarantine facilities are under severe strain.
Walvis Bay, which is the epicentre of the coronavirus, has 80 health workers, of whom some are quarantined and others are in isolation after testing positive, further putting a strain on the already-overwhelmed public health system.
Lieutenant colonel Aktofel Kwedhi, who is heading the Covid-19 emergency operations centre, presented the challenges to the delegation yesterday at the Walvis Bay municipality community hall.
“The current way of doing things at Walvis Bay is simply not working. It frustrates the residents, who are currently jobless and evicted from their rental properties due to non-payment. This must be addressed as soon as possible, as we are dealing with people who are desperate and might resort to other means to sustain themselves,” said Kwedhi.
Erongo residents, particularly at Walvis Bay, have been calling on government leaders to visit the town to familiarise themselves with the situation on the ground.
The virus has claimed seven lives, while 12 are in a critical state and great need of oxygen, according to health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula. Kwedhi suggested authorities consider coming up with an evacuation plan, especially for students, teachers and seasonal workers who are currently stuck in Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Arandis. This, he said, will help to decongest the town. “We should also consider voluntary evacuation for those who lost their jobs to return to their respective regions under the current regulations and guidelines of Covid-19,” he said.
He then explained that most of the residents have been at the coast for employment purposes and that it would be the best for them to be evacuated back to their countries.
Addressing stakeholders and some frontline workers on behalf of the government, head of the task team to Erongo deputy minister of labour Hafeni Ndemula said government acknowledges the massive battle that lies ahead.
“Therefore, President Hage Geingob constituted a team comprising deputy ministers from the urban and rural development, labour, education, health and home affairs to visit the region. We are assigned to come here and assess the situation on the ground to enable the government to best mitigate the further spread of the virus and reduce its disruptive effects on the lives and livelihoods of our people,” Ndemula, who is a former Walvis Bay Urban constituency councillor, said.
He explained the team will visit isolation and quarantine facilities to familiarise themselves with the conditions, treatment and the psycho-social support being offered to those who are quarantined by the state.
“Furthermore, we will be engaging the regional burial committee with the view to understand any challenges they are facing in ensuring that the committee is able to optimally do its work in ensuring that those of our countrymen and countrywomen, who succumb to death as a result of Covid-19, are afforded a decent burial while balancing the need for safety and security of the rest of the community members,” he said.
36 new cases
Meanwhile, Shangula yesterday announced 36 newly-confirmed cases in the country, with 28 cases reported at Walvis Bay, four in Swakopmund, three in Windhoek and one from Lüderitz. This brings the total number of cases in the country to 1 402. The minister also indicated that seven people have recovered and discharged from isolation facilities, while 660 are in quarantine. The country has, thus far, tested 19 260 samples for Covid-19.
– edeklerk@nepc.com.na