Child TB ward for Tsumeb
The construction of the paediatric TB ward and the purchasing of equipment represented the largest investment in the public health sector by a single private company in Namibia.
Namibia needs to build strong and lasting partnerships with corporate entities such as Dundee Precious Metals to effectively fight health challenges such as tuberculosis, health minister Bernard Haufiku has said.
The minister was speaking at the inauguration of the Tsumeb District Hospital's paediatric TB ward, which was built by the Dundee Precious Metals Community Trust, and the handover of medical equipment.
The minister said the construction of the paediatric TB ward and the purchasing of equipment represented the largest investment in the public health sector by a single private company in Namibia.
He said 8 575 tuberculosis cases have been diagnosed in Namibia this year, of whom 812 are children under 14 years of age. The Oshikoto Region, where Tsumeb is situated, reported 51 cases of paediatric TB in 2017.
He added that 25 TB cases and one death were reported at the Tsumeb hospital alone.
Haufiku commended Dundee Precious Metals managing director Zebra Kasete for investing in the health of people.
“The health sector in Namibia remains challenged by a number of things, among them old and dilapidated physical infrastructure such as one finds at Tsumeb District Hospital.
“These challenges are a huge constraint in delivery of quality healthcare services to everyone who lives in Namibia. It is these challenges, I believe, that made Dundee Precious Metals decide to render a helping hand and become a true and partner with the ministry of health for the betterment of our people's health and wellbeing,” said Haufiku.
He added that community support was important to prevent and detect the disease and to ensure that patients take their medication.
“It is the failure to complete the first-line regimen by patients that translates into multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR TB).
“These two strains are the most difficult forms of TB with prolonged treatment time, high cost and unsatisfactory outcome.”
“Actually MDR and XDR TB are very scarce forms of TB. If we can, we must avoid it at all cost. And the only way to avoid it and to save both lives and cost is early detection of anyone with what we call primary TB, which means being infected for the first time and put on first-line treatment. And complete such treatment,” he urged.
Kasete said health is the responsibility of everyone: individuals, families, hospital staff and corporates.
“If more people know about TB and the importance of stopping the spread of the disease, the better it will be for us as a nation to preserve the life of our children, brothers and sisters,” he said.
He said the trust partnered with the Tsumeb District Hospital and invested N$860 000 in procuring medical equipment and for the construction of the paediatric TB ward.
He added that Dundee had donated an additional N$650 000 to the hospital for the procurement of medical equipment.
The project started in 2016 and was completed in three phases.
The minister was speaking at the inauguration of the Tsumeb District Hospital's paediatric TB ward, which was built by the Dundee Precious Metals Community Trust, and the handover of medical equipment.
The minister said the construction of the paediatric TB ward and the purchasing of equipment represented the largest investment in the public health sector by a single private company in Namibia.
He said 8 575 tuberculosis cases have been diagnosed in Namibia this year, of whom 812 are children under 14 years of age. The Oshikoto Region, where Tsumeb is situated, reported 51 cases of paediatric TB in 2017.
He added that 25 TB cases and one death were reported at the Tsumeb hospital alone.
Haufiku commended Dundee Precious Metals managing director Zebra Kasete for investing in the health of people.
“The health sector in Namibia remains challenged by a number of things, among them old and dilapidated physical infrastructure such as one finds at Tsumeb District Hospital.
“These challenges are a huge constraint in delivery of quality healthcare services to everyone who lives in Namibia. It is these challenges, I believe, that made Dundee Precious Metals decide to render a helping hand and become a true and partner with the ministry of health for the betterment of our people's health and wellbeing,” said Haufiku.
He added that community support was important to prevent and detect the disease and to ensure that patients take their medication.
“It is the failure to complete the first-line regimen by patients that translates into multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR TB).
“These two strains are the most difficult forms of TB with prolonged treatment time, high cost and unsatisfactory outcome.”
“Actually MDR and XDR TB are very scarce forms of TB. If we can, we must avoid it at all cost. And the only way to avoid it and to save both lives and cost is early detection of anyone with what we call primary TB, which means being infected for the first time and put on first-line treatment. And complete such treatment,” he urged.
Kasete said health is the responsibility of everyone: individuals, families, hospital staff and corporates.
“If more people know about TB and the importance of stopping the spread of the disease, the better it will be for us as a nation to preserve the life of our children, brothers and sisters,” he said.
He said the trust partnered with the Tsumeb District Hospital and invested N$860 000 in procuring medical equipment and for the construction of the paediatric TB ward.
He added that Dundee had donated an additional N$650 000 to the hospital for the procurement of medical equipment.
The project started in 2016 and was completed in three phases.
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