Improving access to public healthcare
Tackling challenges
Despite numerous challenges, some strides have been made to provide effective healthcare to the inhabitants of the Erongo region.
The governor of the Erongo region, Neville Andre, has acknowledged that the region faces some challenges in providing effective healthcare to its inhabitants.
"The lack of adequate transport and aging fleet - especially ambulances - hampers outreach services, timely patient referrals, and results in costly maintenance services. This is aggravated by a lack of proper mental healthcare facilities and congested clinics - especially clinics and health centres in the Walvis Bay and Swakopmund districts due to high population migration to these towns. The clinics were not built to accommodate such a high number of patients,” Andre said in his state of the region address (SORA).
Some strides have, however, been made to improve access to public healthcare in Erongo. The governor listed the completion of a 28-bed neonatal unit in Swakopmund as a top priority for 2023-'24 - saying this facility will reduce neonatal referrals to Windhoek. "The ministry of health, in collaboration with the US embassy, will also put up a fully equipped five-bed intensive care unit in Walvis Bay. Minor renovations are also envisaged for the Walvis Bay Hospital pharmacy, the Walvis Bay Clinic, the Coastal Clinic, and several nurses' and doctors' accommodations."
Andre added that the regional office - with support from Lepidico, a global lithium exploration and development company - is planning to build an emergency delivery room at the Otjimbingwe Clinic to the value of N$507 000 to strengthen maternal healthcare in the region.
He further said that Swakopmund’s current oxygen plant is insufficient and announced plans to procure an oxygen plant for the Swakopmund District Hospital during this financial year. "Medical gas and vacuum pumps at the four district hospitals were upgraded. Additional oxygen points were added and some rehabilitated for better preparedness in providing oxygen therapy."
With support from the Navachab Gold Mine, a standby generator to the value of N$430 000 was installed at the Dr. Sam Nuyoma Health Centre in Karibib. The government also installed a twenty-four cabinet mortuary container at Usakos District Hospital to the value of N$402 000 to augment the current mortuary space in the district.
"The lack of adequate transport and aging fleet - especially ambulances - hampers outreach services, timely patient referrals, and results in costly maintenance services. This is aggravated by a lack of proper mental healthcare facilities and congested clinics - especially clinics and health centres in the Walvis Bay and Swakopmund districts due to high population migration to these towns. The clinics were not built to accommodate such a high number of patients,” Andre said in his state of the region address (SORA).
Some strides have, however, been made to improve access to public healthcare in Erongo. The governor listed the completion of a 28-bed neonatal unit in Swakopmund as a top priority for 2023-'24 - saying this facility will reduce neonatal referrals to Windhoek. "The ministry of health, in collaboration with the US embassy, will also put up a fully equipped five-bed intensive care unit in Walvis Bay. Minor renovations are also envisaged for the Walvis Bay Hospital pharmacy, the Walvis Bay Clinic, the Coastal Clinic, and several nurses' and doctors' accommodations."
Andre added that the regional office - with support from Lepidico, a global lithium exploration and development company - is planning to build an emergency delivery room at the Otjimbingwe Clinic to the value of N$507 000 to strengthen maternal healthcare in the region.
He further said that Swakopmund’s current oxygen plant is insufficient and announced plans to procure an oxygen plant for the Swakopmund District Hospital during this financial year. "Medical gas and vacuum pumps at the four district hospitals were upgraded. Additional oxygen points were added and some rehabilitated for better preparedness in providing oxygen therapy."
With support from the Navachab Gold Mine, a standby generator to the value of N$430 000 was installed at the Dr. Sam Nuyoma Health Centre in Karibib. The government also installed a twenty-four cabinet mortuary container at Usakos District Hospital to the value of N$402 000 to augment the current mortuary space in the district.
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