Kunene patients complain of inadequate food rations on referrals

Patients from the remote Erwee and Anker settlements in the Kunene Region have complained that food rations provided during long-distance referrals to Windhoek and Oshakati are inadequate.

Erwee resident Pietelina Rosie Awa-Eises said patients are often collected in the afternoon, spend the night at Kamanjab Health Centre and continue travelling the next day, sometimes without receiving proper meals.

"The food parcels given to patients are extremely inadequate considering the long hours and difficult conditions they endure during travel," she said.

According to Awa-Eises and other residents, patients sometimes receive only two slices of bread, a wiener, a small juice or cooldrink and water for the journey.

"This is not sufficient for sick patients, elderly people, or those travelling long distances for medical care," she said.

Some residents also alleged that ambulance drivers receive larger food portions than patients.

Responding to the concerns, health ministry spokesperson Walters Kamaya denied that patients receive such limited rations.

"The food ration is a day pack given to each patient travelling from regions or districts to Oshakati or Windhoek/Katutura hospitals and consists of four slices of bread with jam or butter, two bottles of juice, boiled eggs and fruit," he said.

Kamaya explained that Kamanjab Health Centre operates only during the day and lacks kitchen facilities, cooks and accommodation for patients, making it unable to provide breakfast for overnight travellers.

He added that these services could be introduced in future once the facility is upgraded.

Despite the ministry's explanation, some patients told Namibian Sun that travellers from Khorixas District Hospital often receive larger food packs, including chicken, raising questions about whether food ration standards are applied consistently across districts.