Ministers step in to restore services at Okahandja hospital
Late last week, the Minister of Health and Social Services, Esperance Luvindao, together with the Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi, visited Okahandja Hospital to assess service delivery challenges and infrastructure needs.To address staffing shortages, the ministry confirmed that additional staff have already been interviewed and will assume duty in September and October this year. This measure is expected to ease congestion and improve timely access to healthcare services.
Another pressing concern raised was the hospital’s non-functional theatre, which has forced the referral of patients requiring surgical procedures, despite the presence of skilled staff able to perform the operations. Restoring the theatre remains a top priority, as it will enable on-site surgical care and reduce unnecessary patient transfers.
Infrastructure issues were also noted. Broken windows that had gone unrepaired for years were fixed the very next day following the Minister’s intervention, underscoring the urgency of proactive facility maintenance. The Minister of Works instructed his officials to expedite the finalisation of outstanding bills of quantities so that pending repair and rehabilitation works can begin without further delay.
The hospital’s lack of essential equipment was also highlighted. Some items have already been procured and will soon be handed over to hospital management.
Luvindao stressed that abnormal conditions must never be allowed to become the norm. She urged staff to ensure that all maintenance and repair needs are promptly reported and actively followed up with the relevant offices, in order to safeguard patient dignity and uphold standards of care.
The visit and subsequent actions mark a crucial step towards restoring efficiency, accountability, and quality healthcare services at Okahandja Hospital. - [email protected]