Health ministry seeks partners to build maternal shelter
The health ministry has approached potential partners to help finance the construction of a maternal shelter at Engela, as expectant mothers travelling from villages are reportedly camping near health facilities while waiting to give birth.
UDF chief whip Nico Somaeb raised the situation at Outapi and Engela in the National Assembly, asking health minister Esperance Luvindao what arrangements were being made to accommodate pregnant women who travel from surrounding villages as their delivery dates approach, particularly with the rainy season approaching.
Luvindao said Outapi already has a maternal shelter and that the ministry needs to establish why expectant mothers are reportedly camping outside instead of using the facility.
“It would be interesting to understand why they are there on the side of the road as you've stated. We have a maternal shelter there,” she said.
Luvindao said she wanted more information from Somaeb and would involve ministry officials to establish whether the existing shelter has sufficient capacity to accommodate the women.
“And so, I would like to get more information from the honourable member. And perhaps with my team, that side, we can see if that capacity of that particular shelter is not able to hold perhaps.”
At Engela, however, Luvindao said the ministry was already aware of the need for a maternal shelter after receiving repeated complaints and requests for such a facility.
“We have received multiple complaints and requests for needs to both the maternal shelter.”
She said the ministry had approached potential partners to help finance the project. However, she did not identify them, disclose how much the proposed facility would cost or indicate when construction could begin.
“We have engaged with some partners already to try and see if we are able to then finance this particular project. Of course, it costs money. And unfortunately, it is one out of multiple areas that need these maternal shelters.”
Luvindao said Engela was one of several areas requiring maternal shelters and that the ministry would engage Somaeb to establish what could be done immediately to assist the affected women.
“So, I'll be aware of the need yes. But perhaps we can liaise with the honourable member so that we can find the specifics and see what can be done immediately to assist. Thank you.”
Maternal deaths
The concerns over accommodation for expectant mothers at Outapi and Engela come as Luvindao faces separate parliamentary scrutiny over maternal and neonatal deaths and allegations of medical negligence at public health facilities.
IPC MP Lilani Brinkman, the party’s shadow minister for Health and Social Services, has given notice that she will question Luvindao over what she described as recent incidents concerning maternal and neonatal healthcare in public health facilities.
Brinkman cited three cases, including a premature baby who reportedly lost two toes while admitted to hospital and later died following a subsequent readmission.
She also referred to another premature baby who reportedly sustained a head injury during delivery and subsequently died, as well as the deaths of a mother and her newborn at Eenhana District Hospital.
The Eenhana case involved 39-year-old Johanna Hekandjo of Etope village, who died together with her baby boy on 30 August while in labour at the state hospital. Her family subsequently alleged medical negligence and called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Brinkman said the incidents she cited were not the only cases of concern and pointed to the substantial amounts government has historically had to pay in medical-negligence claims.
“Compensation may settle a claim, but it can never bring back a mother, a newborn or a loved one,” she said.
She asked Luvindao to explain what was behind what she described as a “disturbing pattern”, questioning whether staff shortages and fatigue, inadequate capacity, lack of equipment, delayed referrals, poor supervision or failures in clinical management could be contributing factors.
Brinkman also wants the ministry to disclose how many cases involving maternal and neonatal deaths or alleged medical negligence have been reported since 2025 and how many are currently under investigation.
She further asked what measures the ministry has implemented to ensure lessons from previous cases are acted upon, and similar incidents are not repeated.
Brinkman also wants Luvindao to disclose how much the ministry has paid, or is liable to pay, in medical-negligence claims during 2026 and what proportion of those claims relates to maternal and neonatal care.
