OTJIWARONGO – The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Gender Equality and Social Services yesterday commenced visits to several capital projects in the Otjozondjupa region that were initiated during the 2021/2022 and 2023/2024 financial years.

The 15-member parliamentary standing committee, chaired by Nono Katjingisiua, comprises Tuulikki Abraham, Vetaruhe Kandozoru, Lilian Lutuhezi, Fenny Tutjavi and Armas Amukoto. Other members include Lucia Mbuti, Tuhafeni Kalola, Paula Kooper, Wennie Moongo, Borniface Susiku, Lilani Brinkman, Sharonice Busch, Justina Jonasi and Longinus Iipumbu.

Katjingisiua said the committee will conduct oversight, evaluation and observation of how capital projects for the Ministry of Health and Social Services in Otjozondjupa were implemented.

“If they were not executed, we also want to find out why,” she said during a courtesy visit to the governor’s office yesterday morning.

The delegation began its physical site visits at the Otjiwarongo State Hospital and is also expected to visit the Kalkfeld Clinic, Orwetoveni Clinic, Gam, Grootfontein, Tsumkwe, Otjituuo, Okakarara, Okondjatu, Okahandja and Okandjira in the Omatako constituency.

Otjozondjupa region governor John Julius //Khamuseb informed the committee during the briefing that Otjozondjupa faces numerous challenges in the implementation of capital projects at various state hospitals in the region. “Many of the projects are dormant, incomplete or non-functional despite having been budgeted for over several financial years,” he said.

The governor stated that the Okondjatu Health Centre has remained incomplete for more than 12 years with no clear explanation, while the Tsumkwe Clinic sewage pond is overflowing into residential areas, posing a serious health hazard to community members and their animals. He further raised concerns about an incomplete and non-functional sewage pump station at the Coblenz Clinic. -Nampa