SWAKOPMUND – The Ministry of Health and Social Services has announced the termination of a N$26 million tender awarded to a company to construct a neonatal health care facility in Swakopmund.
The ministry decided to build the new neonatal intensive care ward at the Swakopmund Hospital to cater to the coastal area and its surrounding areas, including Walvis Bay.
The new 28-bed neonatal ward will consist of 12 standard care beds, six high care beds, six intensive care units (ICU) and four isolation unit beds, along with a 12-bed mothers’ lodging unit.
Currently, the Swakopmund district has a maternal ward, with a capacity of 26 beds and four neonatal incubators.
In an interview with the media on Thursday, health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula said the tender that was awarded in November 2020 when construction commenced was cancelled after the company failed to complete the construction within the agreed period of February 2022.
“The tender was awarded to a contractor, and the work was supposed to be completed – but unfortunately, there have been challenges with the contract, and despite all the remedial actions the ministry instituted, it was not coming to completion. As a result, a decision was made by the ministry to terminate the contract, and we now have to issue a new contract,” the minister said.
Shangula added the ministry has revised the scope of work and what needs to be done before appointing a new contractor, who will then complete the job. “This is critically important because we know from experience that babies and mothers used to be transferred to Windhoek, which usually takes more than three hours to arrive. This puts the lives of both the mother and baby at risk, hence the need to have a place nearby to cater for the needs of mothers and babies in these surroundings,” he said.
He noted the ministry regrettably acknowledges the delays; however, there is a way forward, and the project will be completed in due course. -Nampa