Home / Please, Where Is Our Ambulance? Please, Where Is Our Ambulance?
"By Kuvee Kangueehi Windhoek Residents of Ovitoto near Okahandja continue to struggle with no ambulance to transport patients to Windhoek or Okahandja, despite the fact that an ambulance was donated to them almost three years ago. Although the ambulance was donated on September 26, 2003, it has not transported a single patient and has been parked at the residence of local Chief Vipuira Kapuuo, where it has become a target for thieves. A few months ago, the ambulance tyres were stolen and lately the diff went missing. The situation has left the entire community of Ovitoto puzzled and disappointed. Contacted for comment yesterday, Kapuoo told New Era that the ambulance was donated by the former Speaker of the National Assembly, the late Dr MosÃÆ'Æ'Æ'ÃÆ''šÃ‚© Tjitendero, and Namibian Ambassador Peter Katjavivi, after residents complained about the lack of medical transport. He said the ambulance was initially put under his care because there was no regional councillor in the Ovitoto Constituency. Kapuoo said the ambulance was officially received by the Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Richard Kamwi, and other health officials at Ovitoto, after which it was given to an official of the health ministry for registration with the road authorities. Kapuoo said the ambulance however could not be registered because some papers were missing and a few things needed to be installed before it could be registered as an ambulance. The Chief said the official from the ministry left the vehicle at the police station in Okahandja and told him to collect it from the station. ""I collected the ambulance from the police station and took it to my place because there was no security guard and the ambulance had a big canopy and I could not get into the garage."" He added that by then Ovitoto had a new councillor, Isascar Kaujeua, whom he informed about the ambulance and the problems they were facing to register it. ""The councillor initially promised to help solve the problem but later claimed that the donation of the ambulance had a political agenda."" Kapuoo said he was puzzled by the comments of the councillor as well as his reluctance to assist him in getting the ambulance registered. ""I could not understand his comments because late Tjitendero, and Katjavivi, are all Swapo members and the councillor is also a Swapo member."" He added that a few weeks before Tjitendero died he approached him and informed him about the problems and the comments from the councillor. ""The late Speaker was surprised and promised to supply me the missing documents later but sadly died soon afterwards."" Kapuoo said he is planning to write to Katjavivi to request the documents so that he can register the ambulance again. He also confirmed the thefts but stated that the culprit who stole the diff has been identified and he will press a criminal charge soon. The Chief said the culprit is a well-known pensioner in the area who is claiming that he found the diff in the bush. The councillor could not be reached for comment as he was out of town."
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