TB patients housed with psychiatric cases at Otjiwarongo
The parliamentary standing committee on gender equality, health and social welfare has raised serious concerns over reports that tuberculosis (TB) patients, psychiatric patients and those with chronic illnesses are being accommodated in the same ward at Otjiwarongo District Hospital, exposing patients and staff to a heightened risk of cross-infection.
The committee also criticised the absence of the regional health director or a senior official capable of accounting for hospital upgrades and the utilisation of government-allocated funds.
Swapo’s Paula Kooper questioned what corrective measures had been taken by medical authorities, given the dangers posed by mixing infectious TB cases with psychiatric patients and other vulnerable individuals.
“You are aware that there is a problem with the demarcation of patients according to their respective diseases,” Kooper said. “For instance, TB patients were placed together with psychiatric patients, some of whom only knew they had high blood pressure. This is very worrisome. What has been the response from headquarters regarding assistance in this matter?”
Longinus Iipumbu of the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) said the committee was frustrated by what he described as a lack of seriousness from officials responsible for health infrastructure and oversight.
“This committee, when we come here, we are not here to play,” Iipumbu said. “Yet it seems certain people think MPs are just roaming around because of subsistence and travel allowances. This is not about us; it is about the nation we are serving.”
He added that parliamentarians expected proper briefings from senior leadership. “We cannot simply be told that something was upgraded and leave it at that. We must go, see, touch and confirm that it is true — that our people are being served,” he said.
Iipumbu stressed that accountability for public funds was non-negotiable. “There was money allocated here. Were the funds channelled? If so, who utilised them, and were they used for the benefit of the communities? If not, those responsible must be held accountable.”
Hospital representatives attending the meeting on behalf of management told the committee that the hospital’s TB ward had been closed and converted into a dialysis unit, which remains non-functional. They further revealed that the hospital lacks a seclusion room for aggressive psychiatric patients, placing both healthcare workers and other patients at risk.
It was also disclosed that the facility currently has no designated space for TB patients. Hospital officials said the matter had been escalated to the regional health director, who is reportedly aware of the situation.
According to the hospital, written submissions have been made to the director’s office, and a psychiatry staff member was appointed to assist with aggressive patients as a temporary safety measure. However, no substantive intervention has followed, leaving staff and patients exposed to daily infection risks.
When contacted for comment, Otjozondjupa regional health director Gebhardo Timotheus said he was unable to attend the committee meeting as he was on official duty in the ?Kharas Region.
“That is why the committee noted that the director was not present,” Timotheus said. “When the notice was sent, my schedule already indicated that I would be out of the region.”
He added that it would be preferable to comment once he had returned. “Sometimes it is difficult to comment when you are not physically there. It would not be right for me to do that,” he said.
The committee also criticised the absence of the regional health director or a senior official capable of accounting for hospital upgrades and the utilisation of government-allocated funds.
Swapo’s Paula Kooper questioned what corrective measures had been taken by medical authorities, given the dangers posed by mixing infectious TB cases with psychiatric patients and other vulnerable individuals.
“You are aware that there is a problem with the demarcation of patients according to their respective diseases,” Kooper said. “For instance, TB patients were placed together with psychiatric patients, some of whom only knew they had high blood pressure. This is very worrisome. What has been the response from headquarters regarding assistance in this matter?”
Longinus Iipumbu of the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) said the committee was frustrated by what he described as a lack of seriousness from officials responsible for health infrastructure and oversight.
“This committee, when we come here, we are not here to play,” Iipumbu said. “Yet it seems certain people think MPs are just roaming around because of subsistence and travel allowances. This is not about us; it is about the nation we are serving.”
He added that parliamentarians expected proper briefings from senior leadership. “We cannot simply be told that something was upgraded and leave it at that. We must go, see, touch and confirm that it is true — that our people are being served,” he said.
Iipumbu stressed that accountability for public funds was non-negotiable. “There was money allocated here. Were the funds channelled? If so, who utilised them, and were they used for the benefit of the communities? If not, those responsible must be held accountable.”
Hospital representatives attending the meeting on behalf of management told the committee that the hospital’s TB ward had been closed and converted into a dialysis unit, which remains non-functional. They further revealed that the hospital lacks a seclusion room for aggressive psychiatric patients, placing both healthcare workers and other patients at risk.
It was also disclosed that the facility currently has no designated space for TB patients. Hospital officials said the matter had been escalated to the regional health director, who is reportedly aware of the situation.
According to the hospital, written submissions have been made to the director’s office, and a psychiatry staff member was appointed to assist with aggressive patients as a temporary safety measure. However, no substantive intervention has followed, leaving staff and patients exposed to daily infection risks.
When contacted for comment, Otjozondjupa regional health director Gebhardo Timotheus said he was unable to attend the committee meeting as he was on official duty in the ?Kharas Region.
“That is why the committee noted that the director was not present,” Timotheus said. “When the notice was sent, my schedule already indicated that I would be out of the region.”
He added that it would be preferable to comment once he had returned. “Sometimes it is difficult to comment when you are not physically there. It would not be right for me to do that,” he said.
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