PM’s visit reveals shocking state of Katima Mulilo hospital
• Critical budget shortfall hampers medical equipment acquisitions
The regional health directorate has highlighted its struggle to attract Namibian medical staff due to the region's geographical location, forcing the hospital to rely on foreign recruits.
Nikanor Nangolo
WINDHOEK
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare’s surprise visit on 3 August to Katima Mulilo District Hospital has led to a damning report highlighting serious shortcomings and calling for urgent action.
The visit aimed to familiarise the prime minister with the hospital’s daily operations and to gather first-hand information on challenges that have forced hundreds of patients to travel more than 500 kilometres to Rundu Intermediate or Windhoek Central Hospital.
According to the report compiled following the visit, Ngurare and his team discovered several critical problems, including severe staff shortages and equipment issues.
Hospital management, according to the report, also informed Ngurare of security lapses that have led to theft, as well as the urgent need to replace the hospital’s broken incinerator.
Employment barriers
The report, compiled by the Zambezi Regional Health Directorate on 4 August, highlighted another critical dilemma: that delays in recruiting foreign medical staff have left several key medical posts vacant due to non-approval of work permits.
Six posts had been advertised, including that of a chief medical officer on 12 November 2024, a specialist surgeon on 14 June 2023, a senior paediatric medical officer on 24 September 2024, a specialist internal medicine officer on 27 September 2024, a specialist obstetrics and gynaecology officer on 27 September 2024 and a medical officer on 30 April 2024.
“The directorate has struggled to attract Namibian medical officers due to the geographical location of the region, making the hospital rely on foreign expatriates,” the report pointed out, adding that rejections by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration have seriously compromised service delivery at Katima Mulilo Hospital and an urgent intervention is required.
The report recommended urgent recruitment of specialist medical officers to reduce the overwhelming number of patient referrals.
Kitchen disputes and repairs
According to the report, hospital management informed Ngurare that Nutrifood Tradevest, contracted to prepare food, was not using the hospital kitchen due to its “dilapidated state” and was instead operating outside the hospital premises.
Pamo Trading Enterprises utilised the kitchen for an extended period before the ministry terminated the contract on 31 July 2024. The company challenged the termination in the High Court, delaying Nutrifood Tradevest from taking over.
“Despite efforts to remove Pamo Trading Enterprises from the kitchen, the company was still insisting on a valid contract,” the report noted.
Management successfully cleared the facility on 1 August, enabling Nutrifood Tradevest, in collaboration with the hospital maintenance section, to enter the facility, perform minor repairs and painting, and repair cooking pots.
“The advice by the prime minister to utilise the vocational students was welcomed and is being pursued,” the report added.
Casualty and security concerns
In the ICU, the prime minister toured the existing high-care unit and was shown the shortcomings that are limiting patient treatment.
“A time frame of one week was given for the current renovations to be completed. Shortage of medical equipment was also reported, which is hampering patient care,” the report read.
According to the report, two storerooms in the casualty ward have no locks, while clinical items are stored haphazardly.
The emergency door in the mini-theatre is faulty, the operating table is broken and the lights do not work.
The report said staff would convene an urgent meeting to discuss and implement measures to ensure that resources, materials, and equipment are appropriately managed and securely stored in lockable facilities.
Equipment shortages and maintenance
According to the report, the Zambezi Regional Health Directorate does not have a budget to acquire medical equipment or furniture since a 2016 moratorium.
“As a result, Katima Mulilo Hospital and all 26 clinics, three health centres and nine outreach points receive their medical equipment from the head office. A request was made in August 2022 for a list of equipment needed in the hospital, with procurement to take effect in 2023/2024. Some medical equipment was received, but not enough to address the shortage,” the report said.
Deliveries included five infant warmers, 10 cardiotocography (CTG) machines, two delivery beds, seven patient monitors, an anaesthetic machine, a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, a theatre operating table, a blood warmer and four infusion pumps.
A team of medical engineers visited the region between 15 and 18 July to assess ICU equipment needs and submitted their findings to the deputy executive director’s office.
The theatre operating light bulbs were procured in August 2023, with 30 bulbs received and some used in the main theatre machine. Maintenance collected materials on 5 August at a cost of N$49 981.76, the second such procurement in this financial year, the report noted.
Health ministry spokesperson, Walters Kamaya, confirmed the authenticity of the report on Wednesday.
WINDHOEK
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare’s surprise visit on 3 August to Katima Mulilo District Hospital has led to a damning report highlighting serious shortcomings and calling for urgent action.
The visit aimed to familiarise the prime minister with the hospital’s daily operations and to gather first-hand information on challenges that have forced hundreds of patients to travel more than 500 kilometres to Rundu Intermediate or Windhoek Central Hospital.
According to the report compiled following the visit, Ngurare and his team discovered several critical problems, including severe staff shortages and equipment issues.
Hospital management, according to the report, also informed Ngurare of security lapses that have led to theft, as well as the urgent need to replace the hospital’s broken incinerator.
Employment barriers
The report, compiled by the Zambezi Regional Health Directorate on 4 August, highlighted another critical dilemma: that delays in recruiting foreign medical staff have left several key medical posts vacant due to non-approval of work permits.
Six posts had been advertised, including that of a chief medical officer on 12 November 2024, a specialist surgeon on 14 June 2023, a senior paediatric medical officer on 24 September 2024, a specialist internal medicine officer on 27 September 2024, a specialist obstetrics and gynaecology officer on 27 September 2024 and a medical officer on 30 April 2024.
“The directorate has struggled to attract Namibian medical officers due to the geographical location of the region, making the hospital rely on foreign expatriates,” the report pointed out, adding that rejections by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration have seriously compromised service delivery at Katima Mulilo Hospital and an urgent intervention is required.
The report recommended urgent recruitment of specialist medical officers to reduce the overwhelming number of patient referrals.
Kitchen disputes and repairs
According to the report, hospital management informed Ngurare that Nutrifood Tradevest, contracted to prepare food, was not using the hospital kitchen due to its “dilapidated state” and was instead operating outside the hospital premises.
Pamo Trading Enterprises utilised the kitchen for an extended period before the ministry terminated the contract on 31 July 2024. The company challenged the termination in the High Court, delaying Nutrifood Tradevest from taking over.
“Despite efforts to remove Pamo Trading Enterprises from the kitchen, the company was still insisting on a valid contract,” the report noted.
Management successfully cleared the facility on 1 August, enabling Nutrifood Tradevest, in collaboration with the hospital maintenance section, to enter the facility, perform minor repairs and painting, and repair cooking pots.
“The advice by the prime minister to utilise the vocational students was welcomed and is being pursued,” the report added.
Casualty and security concerns
In the ICU, the prime minister toured the existing high-care unit and was shown the shortcomings that are limiting patient treatment.
“A time frame of one week was given for the current renovations to be completed. Shortage of medical equipment was also reported, which is hampering patient care,” the report read.
According to the report, two storerooms in the casualty ward have no locks, while clinical items are stored haphazardly.
The emergency door in the mini-theatre is faulty, the operating table is broken and the lights do not work.
The report said staff would convene an urgent meeting to discuss and implement measures to ensure that resources, materials, and equipment are appropriately managed and securely stored in lockable facilities.
Equipment shortages and maintenance
According to the report, the Zambezi Regional Health Directorate does not have a budget to acquire medical equipment or furniture since a 2016 moratorium.
“As a result, Katima Mulilo Hospital and all 26 clinics, three health centres and nine outreach points receive their medical equipment from the head office. A request was made in August 2022 for a list of equipment needed in the hospital, with procurement to take effect in 2023/2024. Some medical equipment was received, but not enough to address the shortage,” the report said.
Deliveries included five infant warmers, 10 cardiotocography (CTG) machines, two delivery beds, seven patient monitors, an anaesthetic machine, a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, a theatre operating table, a blood warmer and four infusion pumps.
A team of medical engineers visited the region between 15 and 18 July to assess ICU equipment needs and submitted their findings to the deputy executive director’s office.
The theatre operating light bulbs were procured in August 2023, with 30 bulbs received and some used in the main theatre machine. Maintenance collected materials on 5 August at a cost of N$49 981.76, the second such procurement in this financial year, the report noted.
Health ministry spokesperson, Walters Kamaya, confirmed the authenticity of the report on Wednesday.
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