The Katutura hospital’s maternity ward is getting a makeover through various interventions like the installation of storerooms for equipment and medications.
Other improvements includes painting, filing shelves, installation of 15 hand soap and sanitiser dispensers, the refurbishment of staff work stations and kitchen area.
The Rob Youth Foundation (RYF), Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (Nimt) and the German embassy in consultation with the health ministry are orchestrating this project.
“We consulted the health ministry to find out how we can assist and we established the hospital’s maternity wards as the initial point,” said Robert Maseka, founder of RYF.
In June this year, German ambassador to Namibia Herbert Beck and representatives of the RYF signed a funding agreement to support a refurbishment project for the Katutura State Hospital where N$180 000 was made available to refurbish a few wards at the State Sanatorium. .
Maseka added: “The amount given can only assist with the facelift of the maternity and other related projects but the hospital would require additional funding. The N$180 000 is only for the maternity ward.”
The volunteers of the foundation will team up with a construction company that pledged to offer their expertise and labour free of charge to support this project.
Maseka said: “While the project was initially penned to commence at the beginning of July, it was delayed by two months following the need to identify sections of the hospital that required urgent attention. This was coupled with the need for further consultations with the department of maintenance in the works and transport ministry – the custodian responsible for maintenance of government buildings.”
Sister Nancy Kago, who is in charge of the maternity ward section believes that the RYF is “a life saver” and commended the institution for showing great initiative and foresight in tackling an extremely important and sensitive issue to the country: healthcare.
Nimt’s principal for job attachments Ismael Groenewald, expressed pride at being involved in the project and serving the nation, citing that there was visible progress as they had begun with the storeroom.
“I am honoured to represent Nimt and serve the nation,” said Groenewald before pointing out that the material delivery process and obvious congestion with nurses had been somewhat a hindrance. He has set a target of two weeks to complete the project, all of which will be done by trainees proficient in observing safety protocols.
RYF Khomas regional manager Chantel Kamezhou was overjoyed as the fruits of hard work finally began to show after the project was delayed.
“As a foundation, we are striving and working hard, we are in conversation with potential donors to get this hospital in good condition to help the people. I would like to urge people with the capacity to come on board. A delay in attending to someone’s health can result in loss of lives and so the little that we do goes a long way in helping the hospital carry out its duties effectively,” she noted.