OSHAKATI – Patients from the northern regions needing modern nuclear medical care will no longer have to travel long distance to access such treatment.
President Hifikepunye Pohamba yesterday officially inaugurated a state-of-the-art Nuclear Medicine Unit at the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital.
This facility is the third of its kind in the country with only two similar facilities existing in Windhoek.
The unit, a collaboration between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and government, cost N$22 million of which N$11 million was contributed by the IAE and the other portion by government.
During the inauguration, Pohamba said the facility would contribute to the improvement of the quality of health for the country, which has always been government’s priority.
He said the facility would provide services which were previously inaccessible and unaffordable and translate into meaningful benefits by providing diagnostics and treatment for many Namibians who need it, thus improving the quality of their health.
Pohamba said the government is however mindful that nuclear technology is sensitive both as a tool that can threaten health and world peace, however he assured that necessary control and monitoring capabilities have been established under the Ministry of Health and Social Services to ensure that people as well as the environment are protected from exposure to radiation.
“I am informed that there are also other nuclear technologies that can make a meaningful contribution to our national development priorities including the preservation of food sustainable environment use, promoting animal health, treatment of cancer and combating malnutrition. I do understand that some of these have not been fully investigated to assess their viability in the context of national development,” said Pohamba.
He said the nation’s challenge, however, is to enhance the contribution of nuclear technology to the promotion of good health, agricultural productivity, energy security, value addition to the country’s natural products as well as other priorities.
“I therefore call for the strengthening of partnerships and cooperation in the development of national capacity to efficiently harness nuclear technology,” said Pohamba.
Also gracing the same occasion, the IAEA’s Director General Yukiya Amano said bringing nuclear technology to developing countries has been his highest priority since taking office and also highlighted that nuclear technology has an important role to play in patient care, not just in those with cancer but cardio vascular diseases as well.
“The problems of cancer control has been improved immensely, patients can now live normal lives for many years with the disease,” said Amano.
The Minister of Health and Social Services Dr Richard Kamwi and the Oshana Regional Governor Clemens Kashuupulua also attended the inauguration of the unit.
By Kakunawe Shinana