Paulina Moses
Healthcare services have been brought closer to the marginalised community of Oerwoud in the Guinas constituency of the Oshikoto region after they received a container that will be used as a healthcare facility.
The container, which was donated by the Nobel Fishing, travelled all the way from the coastal town of Walvis Bay to the rural grasslands of Oerwoud 1, where more than 300 people reside.
Hitherto, they have had to travel to either Tsumeb or Tsintsabis for medical care, as they do not have a clinic.
“This is a container that will be used as an outreach point for the ministry of health. We have identified Oerwoud as a beneficiary because we recognised their need,” said the Guinas constituency councillor, Elias Kainda Marthinu.
Representatives from the community development committee (CDC) could not contain their joy and gratitude, and praised the initiative.
Landine Oxurus said, without a clinic in the area, she has had difficulties collecting her high blood pressure medication, as she has had to travel long distances to other areas – and that sometimes, getting transport to and from Oerwoud is a challenge.
However, this will now be a thing of the past.
“Now I can get my high blood pressure medication here and not have to travel to get it,” she said.
Without a clinic, the community of Oerwoud found it difficult to adequately care for sick children, pregnant women and the elderly.
According to the councillor, the container will be used as an outreach point, with health officials visiting the area once or twice a week.
However, talks with the health ministry are underway, with the hope that at least two or three permanent nurses can be appointed in the near future.
“We would like it to be a fully-fledged clinic in due course,” Marthinu said.
Petrus Erastus, a member of the CDC, thanked the councillor, stating that they have not regretted voting for him and that their vote has not gone to waste.
“We informed our councillor about our situation in Oerwoud. The day he won, he promised that he will work for us, and it is clear that he has indeed worked. He is doing a great job,” praised Erastus.
* Paulina Moses is an information officer at MICT Oshikoto.