Sanitation, water, health concerns shadow Khorixas Independence build-up
While the preparation is being rolled out for Namibia's decentralized Regional Independence celebrations in Khorixas, residents just meters away are burning egg cartons to ward off mosquitoes bred in 35-year-old sewage pools.
During visits to several institutions and neighbourhoods last week, community members raised a range of service delivery issues, including uncollected refuse and sewage near a primary school, hospital ward constraints, erratic water supply and complaints about policing response times.
Teachers at !Gaeb Primary School say growing refuse piles and stagnant sewage located next to the school for 35 years have become a serious concern for staff and learners. According to educators, the waste has remained largely uncollected for decades and has gradually expanded over time, now encroaching toward areas used by pupils.
They warn that stagnant sewage has created ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes, raising fears about the health and wellbeing of young learners who spend much of their day at the school.
“The mosquitoes are becoming a serious problem and the smell from the sewage is very unpleasant,” one teacher said, adding that the situation has persisted for years without meaningful intervention.
Water supply challenges have also become a daily struggle for some residents.
Martha Kahuadi, 73 year old (female) resident, told Network Media Hub that broken water pipes in parts of the town have left households without a reliable supply since December last year.
“There is no water. We cannot even ask people who have water in their homes because they criticize us or ask us to pay because they say they are also paying,” she said. Kahuadi added that the municipality has been attempting to repair the pipes but that the situation has dragged on for months.
According to Kahuadi, the municipality currently compensates affected households by distributing limited quantities of water twice a week.
“They only give us about two 5-litre containers or sometimes two 20-litre containers. How can a family survive on that for the whole week?” she asked.
The shortage has forced some residents to purchase water privately at around N$20 for a five-litre container.
“If we want to save water to cook, it means we must sacrifice bathing or drinking water,” she said.
According to Kahuadi,mosquito infestations have worsened in some areas, with some households resorting to burning egg cartons in an attempt to keep mosquitoes away.
Meanwhile, health concerns have also been raised at Khorixas State Hospital, where staff and patients say ward space has become constrained due to ongoing renovations.
Support staff indicated that maternity patients, tuberculosis (TB) patients, children and male patients are currently being accommodated in shared ward areas while sections of the hospital undergo refurbishment.
“How can a pregnant lady and a mentally disabled man be put in one ward? Does that really make sense” a local resident (24) added.
Sources at the facility say renovations affecting both the TB and maternity wards have been ongoing since last year and may take longer to complete.
Additional complaints from patients relate to the requirement to purchase a N$10 medical passport before receiving treatment. Some residents claim they have been turned away or delayed when they were unable to immediately produce or buy the document.
“It’s either you buy that passport for N$10 or go home with your wound or illness,” one resident said.
Residents have also raised concerns about policing response times. Local resident Grace Kasete said police often take a long time to respond to violent incidents.
“Sometimes when people call the police about fights or stabbings they take very long to arrive,” she said, adding that officers often cite a lack of fuel.
“They will come quickly if it is a drug or money case, but when it comes to other community issues they say they do not have petrol.”
In response to some questions asked, the Khorixas Town Council said refuse collection is conducted on a regular schedule but blamed illegal dumping by residents for some waste accumulation in undesignated areas.
“With regards to the State Hospital, we have a close working relationship with the Ministry responsible for Health and Social Services, if a need arises, the management of the hospital communicates to our office and we render our assistance” said Simson Ochurub
Local Economic Development & Communications Officer.
The council added that several development projects are currently underway, including water reticulation in the Ada-//Naugu informal settlement serving 616 erven, sewer infrastructure targeting more than 1,700 households and electricity reticulation projects across parts of the town.
It also noted that preparations for the upcoming Namibian Independence Day celebrations scheduled for 21 March in Khorixas are being coordinated through steering committees.
