Rundu Rural Constituency: 25 000 people, 1 clinic
Rundu Rural constituency councillor Paulus Mbangu says the heroes and heroines who fought for the independence of Namibia would be angry to learn that there is only one clinic in his constituency with a population of over 25 000.
According to Mbangu, the Kayengona Clinic is the only healthcare facility in the Rundu Rural Constituency.
Mbangu was speaking at a belated Independence Day celebration at Ngcangcana village last weekend.
He said people in the Kavango regions have been neglected by the state since the country attained its independence.
“Our heroes and heroines would most likely get angry when they read about the statistics of unemployment among the youth and the poverty rate in the country.
“They would most likely get angry to learn that our government hasn’t managed to build a new hospital or a district hospital in either Kavango East or West since independence.
“They would most likely get angry to learn that there is only one clinic in the entire Rundu Rural Constituency and no health centre or district hospital,” Mbangu remarked.
He said people in his constituency rely on the Rundu state hospital, clinics in Rundu, the Shambyu clinic or the Ncaute clinic, which are in other constituencies.
Mbangu said women in the constituency have to buy contraceptives from private pharmacies, which is costly for the poor.
“Our heroes and heroines would not be happy to learn that there are no contraceptives in our hospitals and that our poor girls are told to go and buy contraceptives from the pharmacies.
“They would shake their head in disbelief that there is a serious shortage of medicine in our hospitals and that the proletariat and peasants are told to go and buy medicines from the pharmacies,” he said.
Skewed budgets
Mbangu claimed that the Kavango regions receive smaller budgets than other regions.
“Our heroes and heroines would be infuriated to learn about the skewed distribution of resources that despite Kavango East and West being the poorest regions, those regions receive the lowest budgets,” Mbangu said.
“They would be angry to learn that despite the fact we have many patients who need wheelchairs in Kavango East, Rundu was given a budget of N$0 for wheelchairs while Oshakati hospital received N$300 000, Onandjokwe N$50 000, Katutura N$878 596, Central Hospital N$2 200 000.
“They would most likely shake their head in disbelief to learn that skewed distribution of resources has become a religion in our independent Namibia, and that statistical data at the hand of government are not considered in budgeting.
“Windhoek Central [hospital] was allocated N$4 000 000 for orthopaedic technical service, Oshakati hospital N$600 000, Onandjokwe N$50 000 and again not even a cent was budgeted for Rundu hospital.”
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According to Mbangu, the Kayengona Clinic is the only healthcare facility in the Rundu Rural Constituency.
Mbangu was speaking at a belated Independence Day celebration at Ngcangcana village last weekend.
He said people in the Kavango regions have been neglected by the state since the country attained its independence.
“Our heroes and heroines would most likely get angry when they read about the statistics of unemployment among the youth and the poverty rate in the country.
“They would most likely get angry to learn that our government hasn’t managed to build a new hospital or a district hospital in either Kavango East or West since independence.
“They would most likely get angry to learn that there is only one clinic in the entire Rundu Rural Constituency and no health centre or district hospital,” Mbangu remarked.
He said people in his constituency rely on the Rundu state hospital, clinics in Rundu, the Shambyu clinic or the Ncaute clinic, which are in other constituencies.
Mbangu said women in the constituency have to buy contraceptives from private pharmacies, which is costly for the poor.
“Our heroes and heroines would not be happy to learn that there are no contraceptives in our hospitals and that our poor girls are told to go and buy contraceptives from the pharmacies.
“They would shake their head in disbelief that there is a serious shortage of medicine in our hospitals and that the proletariat and peasants are told to go and buy medicines from the pharmacies,” he said.
Skewed budgets
Mbangu claimed that the Kavango regions receive smaller budgets than other regions.
“Our heroes and heroines would be infuriated to learn about the skewed distribution of resources that despite Kavango East and West being the poorest regions, those regions receive the lowest budgets,” Mbangu said.
“They would be angry to learn that despite the fact we have many patients who need wheelchairs in Kavango East, Rundu was given a budget of N$0 for wheelchairs while Oshakati hospital received N$300 000, Onandjokwe N$50 000, Katutura N$878 596, Central Hospital N$2 200 000.
“They would most likely shake their head in disbelief to learn that skewed distribution of resources has become a religion in our independent Namibia, and that statistical data at the hand of government are not considered in budgeting.
“Windhoek Central [hospital] was allocated N$4 000 000 for orthopaedic technical service, Oshakati hospital N$600 000, Onandjokwe N$50 000 and again not even a cent was budgeted for Rundu hospital.”
[email protected]
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