By Surihe Gaomas WINDHOEK Saying 2006 was a “black year”, Health and Social Services Minister Dr Richard Kamwi urged all senior managers in his ministry to avoid “remote control administration” and urgently “turn around” the current challenges facing the health sector in the country. First, he said, the country was gripped by the outbreak of the wild polio virus, which disabled and claimed some lives, and then there was the threat of a cholera outbreak towards the end of last year. “Sadly, by November/December 2006, we had an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis with cases of cholera reported for the first time in Namibia. Looking back, 2006 was a black year, one which stretched our leadership skills to the fullest,” said Kamwi. The health minister was addressing close to 40 senior health managers at the start of a four-day Enlarged Ministerial Management Committee meeting in Windhoek yesterday. Kamwi told the top health cadres that the time has come to stop what he termed “remote control administration” where they just sit on the telephone and do not communicate face to face with one another to address health issues in an appropriate manner. “Please let us avoid remote control administration, namely the use of telephone. Let us walk about and talk to our staff regularly. Nurse managers don’t stick on the telephone – find time to get into the wards,” said Kamwi, adding that the current lack of communication constantly leads to unnecessary suspicions and further marginalisation of staff, especially amongst nurses. He said the health sector was in dire need of “robust and skilled human resource practitioners”. Kamwi highlighted the shortage of staff in the sector as a serious concern that needs to be addressed immediately. In terms of the ministry’s staff complement, the management cadre has 48 percent vacancies for directors and about 46 percent for deputy directors, with three under secretary posts, of which only one is filled. “This picture is worrisome and seriously hampers our ability to execute our plans. The deficit is alarming! Quite frankly, I am concerned. With so many vacancies, no wonder that most of you are overworked as you try to fill in the gaps,” said Kamwi, noting that these vacancies must be filled this year as a matter or urgency. Thus the recruitment of qualified staff in management cadre positions must re-assessed. “In Rundu, for example, we want to see a nurse manager equivalent to the one in Oshakati or even here in Windhoek,” he said. Other challenges that need urgent attention centre on the delays in appointing medical officers. Some hospitals have been without any state doctors for many years, “while night duty nurses have become mortuary attendants and one nurse is running a clinic alone without relief,” he said. During his working holiday travelling around the country last year, Kamwi observed ongoing problems of wear and tear at most State hospitals and clinics. The failure to submit a comprehensive report on these health facilities to President Hifikepunye Pohamba owing to a lack of management cadres left the ministry in an embarrassing position. “In the end, we were faced with an embarrassing situation in which the President prepared a report on his surprise visit to Eenhana, Engela and Oshakati hospitals,” noted Kamwi. In addition, the health ministry’s latest annual report remains outstanding. The issue of the ongoing water and electricity cuts at health facilities countrywide was also brought to the attention of the health managers at the meeting yesterday. Kamwi noted that such a situation severely compromised the provision of health services to the community. “We must ensure that we pay for water and electricity through the funds allocated for that purpose. Our suppliers are growing tired of us because we repeatedly pay late, sometimes as much as one year later,” he said. With the recent nurses’ demonstration late last year it is apparent that discipline is also declining within the health sector as some nurses in Katima Mulilo reportedly refused to attend the meeting that was chaired by the Minister and his Deputy Health Minister Petrina Haingura. “Some (nurses) in Opuwo were literally disrespecting the tribal authority. Discipline is declining with consequent disrespect for the leadership at all levels,” stressed Kamwi, adding that the whole nurses’ demonstration last year was unnecessary and was largely due to lack of communication at all levels. He also said that the condition of nurses’ uniforms and shoes was an eyesore at almost all the hospitals and that a lack of medical equipment and bed linen remains an ongoing challenge. Even after 16 years of independence the equitable distribution of resources remains a concern especially in Caprivi, Kavango, Ohangwena and Omusati, while the transport shortage remains a thorny issue. In view of these numerous challenges, Kamwi urged senior health managers to become proactive and not just remain behind their desks or on the telephone. “At operational level and within health facilities, managers must be seen by staff and indeed by patients. Nurses feel good when they see their leaders come and talk to them. We are the servants of those whom we serve and must therefore work for the welfare and put the interests above those of our own,” said Kamwi. During the next few three days, deliberations will centre around possible solutions to the problems raised.