WINDHOEK – The Minister of Health and Social Services Dr Richard Kamwi has commended the Minister of Works and Transport, Erkki Nghimtina, for his plans to ban the transport of workers in open trucks.
“People are dying on our roads every single day, Many, if not most of these deaths are preventable. Every year on average 12 000 road accidents occur in Namibia resulting in more than 3 000 casualties and 500 fatalities,” said Kamwi yesterday.
Kamwi said that most sadly single vehicles overturning and pedestrian accidents are among the predominant types of road accidents in the country.
“The situation is getting worse. Between December 2013 and January 2014 there were 578 crashes with 1 104 injuries. A total of 133 people died due to those crashes, and more than two people unnecessarily died every day,” said Kamwi. He said the Katutura hospital’s casualty department is being overwhelmed with accident casualties and so is the hospital in Otjiwarongo and to a certain extent the one in Okahandja.
Kamwi highlighted some causes of traffic accidents as speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, not using seatbelts and violation of traffic rules.
However, he said the health ministry is now working with the World Health Organisation (WHO) on getting information and lessons from various countries on how to reduce road traffic accidents and preventive measures.
“We need to enforce existing laws and regulations and work with the traffic police to stop dangerous driving, and ensure frequent spot checks, particularly during weekends and holidays for drunken driving, compulsory wearing of seatbelts, installation of speed cameras, strict and regular roadworthiness certification and strengthening patrols,” he said.
Kamwi said more needs to be done about trucks, adding that in some countries trucks are not allowed on the roads during certain periods of the day, for example in Botswana trucks are not allowed on the road at night. He said having a resting place for truckers, regulating the hours of driving as well as limiting speed might be the solution to solve the problem.
“We need to work with the ministry of works and transport, and communication to intensify awareness,” he pledged. He said the health ministry would be improving urgent and critical trauma care, timeous referral and first aid.
“Most importantly we need to inform and educate our population – Namibia still has a small population, each life counts in Namibia,” he added.
Kamwi said the time has come to match “our commitments with urgent need of appropriate investment in action”.
“Let us work together with multi-sectoral action plans supported by appropriate resources, thus saving and facilitating human economic development,” he said.
By Kuzeeko Tjitemisa