Martin Endjala
A few metres away from the Outapi District Hospital in the Omusati region, a family waiting for medical help for their sick child, is battling the elements while sleeping under a thorn tree.
Helena Maitjavi and her nine-year-old daughter, Tivasha, have been camping in a tiny green tent under a thorn tree while they await the laboratory results.
“Tivasha has been coughing for a while, but they took samples of her saliva and told us to come back next week. “We don’t have money to go up and down,” said Helena.
They travelled from Oshifo near Ruacana to Outapi a week earlier for medical attention at the district hospital.
Tivasha, although not well, is helping to prepare dinner in a tiny pot, while her mother is weaving a basket that she hopes to sell to make money to return to Ruacana.
“She is much better now, but we are running out of food. We have been eating soft porridge all these days, and the maize meal is also running out,” she said.
Helena says they don’t have any relatives in Outapi who can host them.
All she wishes for is for Tivasha to receive medical help.
“I do not want my child to sleep in the open like this. But what choice do I have? I would rather sleep here under the tree and wait for my child to get better, and only then can I go back,” she explained.
Nearby, a group of maternity tents houses expecting mothers who travelled from distant places to be near the hospital.
Helena said there is no space among the group, and she found the current spot safer.
They fetch water from the hospital with a two-litre bottle, but it is not enough.
While talking to them, a man came to their aid, offering them five litres of fresh water, a loaf of bread, fat cakes with fried fish, and juice.
The relief on the family’s face immediately became apparent.
“You can’t have a sick child living in these conditions, so it’s better to declare these people dead. Does the hospital personnel even bother to come and check on the people?” asked the man.
“I am only offering my help. But our leaders should consider a safe shelter for people coming from far away for medical attention if there is no space in the hospital,” he said before walking away.
Attempts to reach the Outapi District Hospital were unsuccessful as the provided landline number was not answered.
Health and Social Services Minister, Kalumbi Shangula, on the harsh realities of these mothers, explained that the ministry does not admit patients to tents outside the hospital.
“Patients who need to be admitted are admitted to wards in the hospital. There is a maternity shelter at Outapi, but it is not run by the ministry. People who are not admitted and need treatment can go to the clinic, which is in the hospital group,” he said.
He clarified that not everybody, who is pregnant is necessarily a patient.
He explained that the hospital is only responsible for patients.
