Cold nights in Rundu’s overcrowded maternity ward
KENYA KAMBOWE
RUNDU
Women are still sleeping on shared mattresses in corridors at the overcrowded Rundu maternity ward, while a new maternity ward is standing empty.
The new ward, built at a cost of N$53 million, was inaugurated by health minister Kalumbi Shangula days before last year’s November elections.
Healthcare workers and women who recently gave birth at the hospital claim that the situation is unbearable.
“What is happening at the maternity ward is just not right. It has been years and the situation does not change for the better. We need the new maternity ward to be operational as soon as possible,” one nurse said on condition of anonymity.
“It’s winter now and imagine someone who is in labour having to endure the cold.”
No oxygen
In April, Namibian Sun reported that the new maternity ward remained closed.
At the time, Shangula said the reason was because of a lack of adequate medical oxygen in the unit.
“They did actually occupy the place but then after some time, they experienced a problem with the medical oxygen. So, now they have to take the people back,” he said.
He said the initial plan of relying on oxygen cylinders was not working, and a contract was awarded to a company to install a medical oxygen generator on site.
A month later, this has not happened.
When contacted for comment last week, health ministry executive director Ben Nangombe said the ministry expected everything to be finalised by next month.
“The contractors have indicated that they will be able to deliver. The oxygen production unit gets manufactured according to specifications. There have been some issues due to Covid-19, such as the availability of material for the production of oxygen which is in high demand, and there was some delay, but they said it would be delivered in June,” Nangombe explained.
Overcrowded
The old maternity ward has only 30 beds but often accommodates double that number, resulting in women lying on mattresses on the floor.
The new maternity ward consists of two theatres, postnatal and antenatal wards, a neonatal unit, an isolation unit, mothers’ lodges, offices and consulting rooms.
[email protected]
RUNDU
Women are still sleeping on shared mattresses in corridors at the overcrowded Rundu maternity ward, while a new maternity ward is standing empty.
The new ward, built at a cost of N$53 million, was inaugurated by health minister Kalumbi Shangula days before last year’s November elections.
Healthcare workers and women who recently gave birth at the hospital claim that the situation is unbearable.
“What is happening at the maternity ward is just not right. It has been years and the situation does not change for the better. We need the new maternity ward to be operational as soon as possible,” one nurse said on condition of anonymity.
“It’s winter now and imagine someone who is in labour having to endure the cold.”
No oxygen
In April, Namibian Sun reported that the new maternity ward remained closed.
At the time, Shangula said the reason was because of a lack of adequate medical oxygen in the unit.
“They did actually occupy the place but then after some time, they experienced a problem with the medical oxygen. So, now they have to take the people back,” he said.
He said the initial plan of relying on oxygen cylinders was not working, and a contract was awarded to a company to install a medical oxygen generator on site.
A month later, this has not happened.
When contacted for comment last week, health ministry executive director Ben Nangombe said the ministry expected everything to be finalised by next month.
“The contractors have indicated that they will be able to deliver. The oxygen production unit gets manufactured according to specifications. There have been some issues due to Covid-19, such as the availability of material for the production of oxygen which is in high demand, and there was some delay, but they said it would be delivered in June,” Nangombe explained.
Overcrowded
The old maternity ward has only 30 beds but often accommodates double that number, resulting in women lying on mattresses on the floor.
The new maternity ward consists of two theatres, postnatal and antenatal wards, a neonatal unit, an isolation unit, mothers’ lodges, offices and consulting rooms.
[email protected]
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