Health authorities slammed over poor security at mental health ward

The health ministry has admitted that infrastructure and staffing shortages contributed to the escape of a mental health patient in Windhoek last month.

The patient, Giano Seibeb, ended up at the State House, where he was arrested and has since been readmitted to the mental health ward.

Health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya told Namibian Sun this week that Seibeb escaped from the men’s ward at the mental health care centre at Windhoek Central Hospital by scaling the roof and jumping over a boundary wall.

Kamaya also said Seibeb was in the courtyard of the ward when he escaped.

"When it was noted that he had absconded, nurses informed the City Police and his relatives," he said.

"Inadequate infrastructure and human resource deficits contribute to supervision and monitoring failures,” Kamaya admitted.

Seibeb's escape has triggered investigations and renewed scrutiny over security failures both at the mental health facility and State House.

The incident has also exposed overcrowding and a lack of safety for nurses, students and patients at the facility.

Kamaya said the ministry has policies in place that address escaped patients and patients exhibiting aggressive behaviours and that investigations into the incident are under way.

“There is an existing policy on abscondment as well as a guideline on the management of aggressive and suicidal patients. Additionally, the unit has a draft standard operating procedure on the management of habitual absconders in the mental health unit,” he said.

Public concern

A trainee nurse at the mental health hospital, speaking on condition of anonymity, described conditions inside the ward as “extremely dangerous”.

The nurse said, based on experience during practical training, the current state of the mental health hospital raises serious concerns about safety, security and capacity.

"Security is very poor," the nurse said.

"There have been incidents where patients managed to jump the boundary wall and make their way onto the main premises where nurses are stationed,” the person added.

The health professional claimed that patients had repeatedly breached security and wandered into public areas of the hospital.

“While we were in a session with our lecturer, we were informed that this was a mental patient walking around who was not supposed to be in that area. The lecturer instructed us not to intervene, explaining that we did not know what the patient might have in their possession and that it could be dangerous,” the nurse said.

Absent security

The nurse recounted that a 14-year-old boy broke glass to gain entry into a patient's room and allegedly put shards in his mouth while staff struggled to restrain him.

“Situations like this are extremely dangerous, yet security personnel are either absent or inadequately equipped to respond effectively," the nurse said.

"It was extremely difficult to restrain and return the boy to the ward because there was not enough proper assistance."

According to the account, female nurses are often left to manage aggressive male patients without adequate security support, while students are expected to work in unsafe conditions without immediate backup.

“There is also a clear shortage of trained security personnel capable of managing aggressive or unstable patients. Whether patients are fighting among themselves, experiencing severe episodes, or attempting to escape, there is not enough skilled support to handle these situations safely.”

Police investigation

Meanwhile, Namibian Police spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi confirmed that a criminal investigation had been launched into the broader incident involving the patient.

"As the matter is sub judice, no further details can be provided at this stage. The public will be updated once the investigation has been concluded,” Shikwambi said.

She declined to comment on how the patient allegedly bypassed security to gain access to restricted areas at state house, saying CCTV footage and access details form part of the ongoing investigation.