Baby death after ambulance delay devastates family
The problem been going on since 2021
A Berseba family waited for eight hours with the body of their two-month-old baby at Keetmanshoop District Hospital after travelling from Tses using a private car because there was no ambulance.
A young mother’s world came to a devastating halt on Monday when her two-month-old daughter died in her arms—and no official assistance arrived until after 22:00.
The 23-year-old mother from Berseba was left waiting in anguish after her infant had died around 14:30, despite multiple earlier visits to the local clinic.
What followed was an agonising eight-hour wait with the lifeless body, as the family was caught between an unresponsive ambulance service and absent police officials from nearby Tses.
“The ambulance came but said they couldn’t take the body because they needed the police. But the police never came,” the baby’s aunt said. “She took that baby to the clinic three times. Why didn’t they transfer her to Keetmanshoop? Why did it have to end like this?”
According to the aunt, the baby had been lively and smiling on Monday morning. But by around noon, the mother noticed something was wrong.
“She was holding her when she saw her start to change. She ran to call the grandmother who lives nearby. When grandma came and checked, she told her the baby was gone,” the aunt recounted.
Eventually, the body was transported to Keetmanshoop by the family using private transport.
“The nurses told us there was no medicine at the Berseba Clinic and made no effort to send us to Keetmanshoop,” the aunt added.
In a heartbreaking video, the baby’s father is seen cradling his daughter’s body in his arms.
“When they want us to vote, they drive out to find us in the heat and dust. But when we need help, we are alone,” he said bitterly.
A source told Namibian Sun that nurses were seen outside Keetmanshoop District Hospital, reportedly on their mobile phones, while the father waited with the child’s body.
Struggling in grief
As if the emotional trauma weren’t enough, the grieving parents are also grappling with how to bury their daughter.
“I worked on the Mass Housing project in Keetmanshoop, but I haven’t been paid for two months,” the father said. “Now I have to figure out how to bury my daughter.”
The family is appealing for assistance from the public to help cover funeral costs.
The tragedy comes amid ongoing complaints of neglect and inefficiency at Keetmanshoop hospital. Patients scheduled for transport to Windhoek were reportedly still stranded at the facility since 7:00. Monday with no communication.
“This problem is not new. It’s been going on since 2021,” lamented one elderly patient. “Some of us travel from far-off farms, only to come and sit, then go back without being helped.”
Community member Gert Titus added his voice to the growing frustration.
“We’ve written emails, made phone calls, and begged this Ministry to hear us. And still—silence. This Ministry has failed us from the very bottom line,” said Titus.
Ministry Responds
Health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya confirmed the ministry is aware of the incident and has launched an internal investigation.
“The Ministry has learned about it. It’s conducting an internal investigation to establish what really transpired,” Kamaya said.
The 23-year-old mother from Berseba was left waiting in anguish after her infant had died around 14:30, despite multiple earlier visits to the local clinic.
What followed was an agonising eight-hour wait with the lifeless body, as the family was caught between an unresponsive ambulance service and absent police officials from nearby Tses.
“The ambulance came but said they couldn’t take the body because they needed the police. But the police never came,” the baby’s aunt said. “She took that baby to the clinic three times. Why didn’t they transfer her to Keetmanshoop? Why did it have to end like this?”
According to the aunt, the baby had been lively and smiling on Monday morning. But by around noon, the mother noticed something was wrong.
“She was holding her when she saw her start to change. She ran to call the grandmother who lives nearby. When grandma came and checked, she told her the baby was gone,” the aunt recounted.
Eventually, the body was transported to Keetmanshoop by the family using private transport.
“The nurses told us there was no medicine at the Berseba Clinic and made no effort to send us to Keetmanshoop,” the aunt added.
In a heartbreaking video, the baby’s father is seen cradling his daughter’s body in his arms.
“When they want us to vote, they drive out to find us in the heat and dust. But when we need help, we are alone,” he said bitterly.
A source told Namibian Sun that nurses were seen outside Keetmanshoop District Hospital, reportedly on their mobile phones, while the father waited with the child’s body.
Struggling in grief
As if the emotional trauma weren’t enough, the grieving parents are also grappling with how to bury their daughter.
“I worked on the Mass Housing project in Keetmanshoop, but I haven’t been paid for two months,” the father said. “Now I have to figure out how to bury my daughter.”
The family is appealing for assistance from the public to help cover funeral costs.
The tragedy comes amid ongoing complaints of neglect and inefficiency at Keetmanshoop hospital. Patients scheduled for transport to Windhoek were reportedly still stranded at the facility since 7:00. Monday with no communication.
“This problem is not new. It’s been going on since 2021,” lamented one elderly patient. “Some of us travel from far-off farms, only to come and sit, then go back without being helped.”
Community member Gert Titus added his voice to the growing frustration.
“We’ve written emails, made phone calls, and begged this Ministry to hear us. And still—silence. This Ministry has failed us from the very bottom line,” said Titus.
Ministry Responds
Health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya confirmed the ministry is aware of the incident and has launched an internal investigation.
“The Ministry has learned about it. It’s conducting an internal investigation to establish what really transpired,” Kamaya said.
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