Ausiku irked by stalled health projects
Kavango West governor Sirkka Ausiku is appealing to the health ministry to finalise the construction of the Nkurenkuru primary healthcare clinic, which was supposed to be operational three years ago.
Ausiku made the plea during her State of the Region Address (SORA), which she delivered last week.
“The region is appealing to the ministry to complete the Nkurenkuru healthcare clinic and open it to the public,” Ausiku said.
The governor said she was in fact reiterating what she said during last year's SORA, when she expressed concern over the halting of projects in Nkurenkuru, Dcwatjinga, Gcaruhwa and Rupara, as well as the construction of the much-anticipated district hospital being in limbo for more than four years
At the time, the health ministry told Namibian Sun the reason for the shelving of the projects was financial constraints. Nampa reported that Shafombabi Eedopi Construction was supposed to have finalised the Nkurenkuru health facility on 15 April 2015, but in 2017 it was only 70% complete.
The contractor had apparently been waiting for material from South Africa for two years.
It was further reported that of the budgeted N$28 million, N$22 million had already been spent on the project. Yesterday, when Namibian Sun asked the health ministry about the progress made in terms of finalising the Nkurenkuru clinic, a senior health official said the project resides under the works ministry.
The official said they have been following up with the works ministry on the project.
“The issue is that the project falls under the works ministry and we understand that the contract has not been terminated formally,” the official said. Meanwhile, Ausiku expressed her disappointment over the non-start of the construction of the Nkurenkuru district hospital, which she says was once budgeted for, but had not kicked off as yet.
“We are disappointed that the construction of the Nkurenkuru district hospital did not commence, although there was a budget allocation,” Ausiku said during her SORA.
Ausiku said due to the lack of health facilities in her region, they are experiencing challenges in terms of addressing the health needs of citizens. “As reported last year, the HIV prevalence rate in the Kavango West Region, amongst the general population, has increased from 12% in 2014 to 16% in 2016 and 88% of our health facilities offer HIV counselling and testing services, compared to 81% reported last year, while 86% of our health facilities offer antiretroviral treatment services, which is less compared to the 88% reported last year. There is a serious need for the region to double our efforts in relation to prevention programs,” Ausiku added.
KENYA KAMBOWE
Ausiku made the plea during her State of the Region Address (SORA), which she delivered last week.
“The region is appealing to the ministry to complete the Nkurenkuru healthcare clinic and open it to the public,” Ausiku said.
The governor said she was in fact reiterating what she said during last year's SORA, when she expressed concern over the halting of projects in Nkurenkuru, Dcwatjinga, Gcaruhwa and Rupara, as well as the construction of the much-anticipated district hospital being in limbo for more than four years
At the time, the health ministry told Namibian Sun the reason for the shelving of the projects was financial constraints. Nampa reported that Shafombabi Eedopi Construction was supposed to have finalised the Nkurenkuru health facility on 15 April 2015, but in 2017 it was only 70% complete.
The contractor had apparently been waiting for material from South Africa for two years.
It was further reported that of the budgeted N$28 million, N$22 million had already been spent on the project. Yesterday, when Namibian Sun asked the health ministry about the progress made in terms of finalising the Nkurenkuru clinic, a senior health official said the project resides under the works ministry.
The official said they have been following up with the works ministry on the project.
“The issue is that the project falls under the works ministry and we understand that the contract has not been terminated formally,” the official said. Meanwhile, Ausiku expressed her disappointment over the non-start of the construction of the Nkurenkuru district hospital, which she says was once budgeted for, but had not kicked off as yet.
“We are disappointed that the construction of the Nkurenkuru district hospital did not commence, although there was a budget allocation,” Ausiku said during her SORA.
Ausiku said due to the lack of health facilities in her region, they are experiencing challenges in terms of addressing the health needs of citizens. “As reported last year, the HIV prevalence rate in the Kavango West Region, amongst the general population, has increased from 12% in 2014 to 16% in 2016 and 88% of our health facilities offer HIV counselling and testing services, compared to 81% reported last year, while 86% of our health facilities offer antiretroviral treatment services, which is less compared to the 88% reported last year. There is a serious need for the region to double our efforts in relation to prevention programs,” Ausiku added.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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