Staff Writer
The construction of the Nkurenkuru Intermediate Hospital in the Kavango West Region has been on hold for eight years since its ground breaking ceremony which was done by former President Hifikepunye Pohamba in early November 2014.
Ministry of Health and Social Services executive director Ben Nangombe said the availability of funds has affected the implementation of the hospital project.
“The district hospital has been put on hold; the process had started but due to financial constrains the construction of the regional hospital could not take place. The availability of funds to implement these capital projects has affected that particular project,” he said.
However, he said the ministry has managed to build a primary health care centre and an isolation facility in the north-eastern town whose inauguration will be done in the coming week.
According to the region report tabled in the National Council this week, the construction of the primary health care centre was also abandoned for some time before its completion and lacked staff members.
Furthermore, the report states that the region requires more health facilities to accommodate all the residents.
“The region is also in need of more health facilities specifically clinics in various areas across the region as the region is vast and some of the inhabitants still walk more than 30 kilometers to the nearest health facility,” it stated.
Additionally, the report states that the youngest region was not able to implement most of its capital projects for the 2021/2022 financial year due to lack of consultation between the regional council and the various line ministries.
“There was no consultation with the council from the various line ministries under which the projects listed and budgeted to explain as to what happened to these budgets,” reads the report.
Among the projects that have not been implemented are the upgrading of the Bravel Primary School which was budged for N$5 million, the construction of Nkurenkuru Community Empowerment Centre, which was budgeted N$5.7 million and the construction of the Namibia-Angola border fence and upgrading of veterinary fences which are to cost N$3.5 million.
