Martin Endjala
THE Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA) has expressed concern over the number of accident related fatalities recorded in the Ohangwena region.
The MVA Fund highlighted that the region is ranked third in the number of road crash-related fatalities, and pointed out that a large proportion of incomplete claims result from the region lacking the required documents or incomplete documentation.
In a media statement, MVA Fund, Corporate Communications and Stakeholder Relations Manager, Hilaria Graig noted that in addition to the high number of accidents in the region, they want to address incomplete claims and the lack of required paperwork, or simply wrongly filled out forms.
As a result, she said, the inadequate claim forms make it difficult for the Fund to finalise claim procedures within the time frame specified.
“In pursuit of its mandate to assist persons involved in road traffic crashes, the MVA Fund is rolling out its community outreach programmes, “MVA Fund on Wheels” in the Ohangwena Region. The week long programme aims to bring the Fund’s services closer to the people while also creating awareness of the Fund’s benefits, products and services,” said Graig.
She further highlighted that the community outreach campaign will target issues such as claim registration and inquiries, public education on claim form completion, product awareness, and stakeholder involvement, as well as increasing regional road safety efforts.
The MVA Fund on Wheels team will also visit and interact with the communities of Ondobe, Okongo, Helao Nafidi, Ongha, Ongenga, and Eenhana.
“While the Fund has eight strategically located service centres throughout the country, the MVA Fund on Wheels programmes allows the Fund to reach remote communities especially where it has no service centres.
“The programme will allow the Fund to bring road safety to the forefront in the region where they will visit schools, conduct road safety interventions at bus and loading terminals and host community meetings with the general public. To reach a wider audience, the Fund has teamed up with NBC Kati FM (Oshiwambo Radio) for a live broadcast of some of the week’s engagements. The activation will feature popular oshiwambo musician Shitana,” explained Graig.
She said the MVA Fund has reached out to Ohangwena’s regional leadership and asked them to ensure a big turnout at all scheduled platforms in order to communicate the road safety message to everybody.
The Fund already took the MVA Fund on Wheels initiative to the Erongo, Khomas, and Omaheke regions, with ambitions to expand to all 14 regions of the country.
