Niël Terblanché
The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) has appointed August 26 as the new contractor to complete the long-delayed construction of a neonatal unit at Swakopmund District Hospital.
The project, valued at approximately N$26 million, is now expected to be completed by the end of this year.
The tender, initially awarded to Shatty Construction in November 2020, faced numerous setbacks, culminating in the contract being terminated after the company failed to meet the February 2022 completion deadline.
This is despite receiving payments from the government.
The delays have significantly impacted the availability of neonatal care in the region, forcing the transfer of critically ill newborns to Windhoek, a journey of over three hours.
The new 28-bed neonatal ward will comprise 12 standard care beds, six high care beds, six intensive care units (ICU), four isolation unit beds, and a 12-bed mothers’ lodging unit.
Currently, the Swakopmund District Hospital has a maternal ward with a capacity of 26 beds and four neonatal incubators, which is insufficient to meet the region’s needs.
At the time of the contract’s termination, the Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, explained that despite various remedial actions taken by the ministry, Shatty Construction could not fulfil its obligations.
“The tender was awarded to a contractor, and the work was supposed to be completed, but unfortunately, there have been challenges with the contract, and despite all the remedial actions the ministry instituted, it was not coming to completion,” Shangula said.
Ben Nangombe, the Executive Director of the MOHSS, made it clear during the handover of a new mobile Intensive Care Unit to the Walvis Bay District Hospital earlier this week that the revised scope of work under August 26 aims to ensure the project’s completion without further delays.
He stressed the importance of SMEs executing their contracts effectively, highlighting that delays deny essential services to vulnerable populations, particularly newborns.
“The delay in construction has denied services to babies, and it’s critically important because we know from experience that babies and mothers used to be transferred to Windhoek, which usually takes more than three hours to arrive,” Nangombe stated.
He added that the situation puts the lives of both the mother and baby at risk.
“Hence the need to have a place nearby to cater to the needs of mothers and babies in these surroundings,” he said.
Nangombe added that with the new contractor in place, the new neonatal unit will soon provide much-needed healthcare services locally, ensuring timely medical attention for newborns and easing the burden on families who previously had to travel long distances for care.
