Eenhana hospital sounds alarm over critical resource shortages

The Eenhana District Hospital in the Ohangwena region has flagged the lack of medical waste disposal sites in the north as a major challenge, in addition to a shortage of essential medicines.

Namibia has only two licensed disposal sites, in Walvis Bay and Windhoek.

The hospital's senior environmental health practitioner, Petrus Amuthenu, told governor Kadiva Hamutumwa on Friday that the hospital is awaiting authorisation to transport and dispose of empty medical vials.

Hamutumwa met with senior hospital officials on Friday to discuss challenges facing the institution and explore possible solutions.

Amuthenu said the issue of a disposal site was primarily a municipal one. He stressed the need for land to be allocated for a medical waste disposal site in the region, rather than relying on authorisations from Windhoek or Walvis Bay.

Hamutumwa said the discussion about land availability and the absence of a northern disposal site was likely news to many leaders.

The governor said it was the first time she had heard about it and pledged to act.

“This is a matter we will prioritise with the municipality to ensure that the northern region has its own site for medical waste disposal,” she said.

Essentials not available

Hospital management also reported a shortage of essential equipment, including ventilators, incubators, monitors, continuous glucose machines and ultrasound machines.

They also highlighted infrastructure constraints, such as the need to expand the casualty and maternity wards as well as the surgical theatre.

Other challenges include a lack of vehicles and patient shelters and insufficient surgical equipment like delivery and surgical sets, which hinder the provision of quality and timely healthcare services.

Currently, the hospital has only one functioning washing machine and dryer, a situation that has led to a backlog of dirty laundry that remains on the floor for extended periods.

Like Engela Hospital, Eenhana faces a shortage of essential medications, including eye care and dental drugs, anti-psychotics and infant antibiotics.

Hospital pharmacist Jeremiah Shikongo said staff often dispense alternatives or direct patients to private pharmacies. In some cases, patients whose conditions did not improve were transferred to Oshakati Intermediate Hospital.

“This is our biggest challenge, and we need a steady supply of essential medications so that we can appropriately prescribe for our patients,” he said.

Hamutumwa also asked whether stray cats around the hospital posed a health risk. Amuthenu said several attempts had been made to manage the problem, but that eliminating it entirely was difficult given the constant influx of animals from neighbouring areas.

Hamutumwa assured the team that she had taken note of all the challenges and would continue to engage the health ministry to find solutions.