Nkurenkuru hospital: Pohamba’s dead dream 9 years on
Nine years after former president Hifikepunye Pohamba officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Nkurenkuru District Hospital, the project remains a pipe dream for the thousands of residents of the Kavango West Region – most of whom are desperate for essential health services.
Close to N$6 million was spent on the fence of the envisioned project, but over the years, it has been vandalised in parts.
In September 2019, during a site visit with other stakeholders, health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula expressed his disappointment in the vandalism.
Meanwhile, despite the existence of clinics and primary healthcare centres in Kavango West, most critical patients are transferred to the Rundu Intermediate Hospital in Kavango East, which also caters to Angolan nationals, who cross the border on a daily basis to make use of the facility.
As we speak
When contacted for comment on the status of construction on the Nkurenkuru District Hospital, health ministry executive director Ben Nangombe said Cabinet has given the green light for the project to commence.
He could, however, not provide a starting date.
“It’s one of the projects we are pursuing. It is included in the plans that were recently approved by Cabinet. It’s receiving attention as we speak,” Nangombe said.
In May 2019, the ministry told Namibian Sun that a feasibility study for the construction of the hospital had been finalised.
“The ministry is compiling new standards and norms for hospitals and these are being used to remodify the feasibility for the designated hospital - to be responsive to the needs of a modern hospital. These standards are to do with patient flow, the outpatient department, casualty, the wards and other diagnostic services, so that all district hospitals have a similar standard.
“Once this is finalised, full design will be commissioned,” it said at the time.
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Close to N$6 million was spent on the fence of the envisioned project, but over the years, it has been vandalised in parts.
In September 2019, during a site visit with other stakeholders, health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula expressed his disappointment in the vandalism.
Meanwhile, despite the existence of clinics and primary healthcare centres in Kavango West, most critical patients are transferred to the Rundu Intermediate Hospital in Kavango East, which also caters to Angolan nationals, who cross the border on a daily basis to make use of the facility.
As we speak
When contacted for comment on the status of construction on the Nkurenkuru District Hospital, health ministry executive director Ben Nangombe said Cabinet has given the green light for the project to commence.
He could, however, not provide a starting date.
“It’s one of the projects we are pursuing. It is included in the plans that were recently approved by Cabinet. It’s receiving attention as we speak,” Nangombe said.
In May 2019, the ministry told Namibian Sun that a feasibility study for the construction of the hospital had been finalised.
“The ministry is compiling new standards and norms for hospitals and these are being used to remodify the feasibility for the designated hospital - to be responsive to the needs of a modern hospital. These standards are to do with patient flow, the outpatient department, casualty, the wards and other diagnostic services, so that all district hospitals have a similar standard.
“Once this is finalised, full design will be commissioned,” it said at the time.
[email protected]
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