Govt opens N$30m neonatal ICU in Swakop

The health ministry officially inaugurated a new N$30 million neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Swakopmund District Hospital on Friday.

Deputy minister of health and social services Suzan Ndjaleka described the facility as a “fortress of hope” for newborns requiring specialised medical care and families affected by premature births and neonatal complications.

“This is not only a milestone for the region but for the nation at large,” Ndjaleka said.

“The disparity was a gap we could no longer allow to exist.”

The 28-bed NICU comprises 12 standard care beds, six high-care beds, six intensive care beds and four isolation beds. A 12-bed mothers’ lodge has also been established to allow mothers to remain close to their newborns throughout treatment.

The facility was developed in response to increasing demand for neonatal services in the region. Swakopmund District Hospital records an average of 127 births per month, while the Erongo region registered more than 5 500 births during the 2024/2025 financial year.

Previously, the hospital operated with only four incubators, a limitation that often forced the transfer of critically ill newborns to Windhoek for specialised care.

Ndjaleka said the ministry has strengthened staffing at the facility through the recruitment of paediatricians, nurses, medical officers and other allied health professionals to ensure full operational capacity.

Ndjaleka further highlighted ongoing government investment in health infrastructure, including the rehabilitation of Mondesa Clinic after a fire in 2025 and repairs to facilities affected by heavy rains along the coast.