Lot Shikongo
SESFONTEIN - The community of Sesfontein settlement in the Kunene Region recently got their prayers answered when a new clinic and health centre finally opened its doors to the public after decades of waiting.
The health centre, which government constructed at a cost of N$13 million, was recently inaugurated by the Kunene Governor Marius Sheya, on behalf of the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services Juliet Kavetuna.
The centre, whose tender had to be re-advertised three times due to the abandonment of the project by previous contractors, will serve the communities of Sesfontein, Purros, Otjikondavirongo and Palmwag.
Speaking at the inauguration, Governor Sheya expressed government’s commitment to bringing services closer to the people, even in remote areas such as Sesfontein.
Sheya called on the public to utilise the clinic and always show respect to the nurses.
The governor announced that one of the serious challenges in Kunene is the defaulting by people on ARV treatment, as well as TB patients who do not turn up for follow-up treatment.
“I would like to call on the traditional authority leadership to encourage their subjects who are on medication, be it for HIV or TB, to always take their medications as per the advice of the doctors and nurses as it is vital in not only prolonging life, but also in preventing a serious drug resistance and avoiding unnecessary deaths,” he said.
The health centre, which is equipped with a post-natal ward, mortuary, pharmacy and staff accommodation, is set to reduce a long travelling distance of over 150 km to access the Opuwo District Hospital.
As an effort to meet government halfway, the Big Three Trust Fund which comprises of Sesfontein, Anaber and Torra conservancies donated a vehicle to the hospital that is set to be used as an ambulance once modified.
According to the chairperson of the Big Three Trust Fund, Tommy Adams, the ambulance will go a long way in assisting the health centre to reach out to remote areas of the constituency to respond to medical emergencies.
Located in the south-western part of Kunene, Sesfontein has a population of over 4,000 inhabitants.
* Lot Shikongo is a senior information officer in the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology Kunene Regional Office.