Hertta-Maria Amutenja
Governor of Otjozondjupa Region James Uerikua has reiterated the critical need for the Ministry of Health and Social Service to construct a referral hospital at Otjiwarongo, to help decongest the patient population at state facilities in Windhoek and in neighbouring areas.
Despite a referral hospital with an intensive care unit having been planned and approved for the Otjozondjupa Region, construction of such a facility has not commenced.
“There is a need for us to call upon the Ministry of Health and Social Services to build a referral hospital here in Otjiwarongo. The town is the centre of our region and that of the country and it warrants having a referral hospital that will reduce pressure on the already overstretched central healthcare system in Windhoek and other areas. The referral hospital project needs to start. I call upon the Ministry of Health to consider this notwithstanding the limited financial resources at their disposal,” he said during his State of the Region address.
The region has four health districts – Okahandja, Okakarara, Otjiwarongo and Grootfontein. The Grootfontein district extends to the Tsumkwe constituency, including Mangetti Dune and Gam, which is about 400km away from the town.
In addition, he thanked the health ministry for the commencement of the construction of an Intensive Care Unit.
“We want to compliment the ministry on the commencement of the construction of an Intensive Care Unit at Otjiwarongo to complement the existing 12-bed ICU facility that was constructed last year,” said Uerikua.
Earlier this year the ministry announced that it will be constructing district hospitals in Windhoek, Nkurenkuru, Ondangwa and Otjiwarongo and a referral hospital in the Oshana Region is also on the books.
The health minister, Dr Kalumbi Shangula said building sites have been identified with most of the areas already fenced off and the mobilisation of funds is in the process.
In light of B2Gold Namibia commencing with a phased mine closure process and announcement of retrenchment at its Otjikoto Mine near Otavi, he urged the mining sector to be more lenient when it comes to labour issues.
“B2Gold has announced a retrenchment of various staff members, and that is a serious cause of concern among the staff members. It is a critical concern to us leadership of the region. And when one day when you just decide that you are going to retrench, it affects society and the community. I urge our mining sector to be to become very sensitive when it comes to labour-related matters. We call upon the mining sector to pay serious attention and adhere to the provisions of the local labour act,” he said.
The company announced that the mine has been experiencing some uncertainty about the future of the Otjikoto Mine for several months already.
In addition, Uerikua advised the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Ministry of Labour to work together to safeguard the work in the mining industry.
