Martin Endjala
Cabinet has given the green light for the construction of the long-awaited realization of a Windhoek District Hospital of the Ministry of Health and Social Services to ease the burden currently being experienced by the Windhoek Central Hospital and the Katutura State Hospital in terms of referrals and service delivery.
The new hospital will be located in the Moses//Garoeb Constituency in Hakahana.
The approval occurred during the ninth decision-making meeting approved the development after the submission of the project by the Minister of Health and Social Services.
The cabinet took note of the activities being undertaken in respect of the construction of the Windhoek District Hospital and endorsed the ongoing consultations for the development and construction thereof.
As a result, Cabinet has directed the Ministries of Health and Social Services, Finance and Public Enterprises and the National Planning Commission to mobilise financial resources for the construction of the new hospital.
The cabinet further directed the Ministry of Health and Social Services, and the Office of the Prime Minister to develop an appropriate staff establishment for the health facility and to make financial provision for the operationalisation thereof.
Meanwhile, health minister, Dr Kalumbi Shangula confirmed the approval by the Cabinet, adding that cabinet directives on the staff establishment and financial provision are the natural follow-up of his ministry and the Office of the Prime Minister. The two offices, he said will determine the number and types of workers of the hospital.
Health and Social Services Executive Director, Ben Nangombe told the Windhoek Observer that the land has already been allocated and the government is making provisions to expedite the project.
He has since indicated that there is a Multi-Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee, comprising the MoHSS, the Finance and Public Enterprise Ministry, the Urban and Rural Development Ministry and the National Policy Commission to oversee the expedition of the district hospital.
“We are in the process of finalising the feasibility study, these are formalities which must be undertaken, the project will go ahead, and work is already underway, “said Nangombe. He emphasized that it takes time and there are steps to be taken when doing such a project like that, adding that land must be serviced, and then the construction follows.
The planned construction of the Khomas District Hospital was initiated in 2017 and was envisaged to be constructed in 2019, but construction had to be put on hold, due to a lack of funding.
