Covid: Otjiwarongo unites against virus

RONELLE RADEMEYERWINDHOEKThanks to heartwarming cooperation and teamwork, the community of Otjiwarongo was able to set up a 12-bed hospice for recovering Covid-19 patients within a week.Theo Borstlap, chairperson of the committee which managed the project, said the aim is to transfer patients from the town’s hospitals to the Healing Haven Hospice once they’re no longer seriously ill.“Here, they will be rehabilitated by physiotherapists, while pastoral psychologists will also be available for counselling,” Borstlap, a businessman, said.They started transforming a house at the town into the hospice last Thursday, he said, adding that the work was completed within four days by Edna de Jager and a team of handy residents.In fact, the hospice was De Jager’s brainchild. Meanwhile, the property belongs to Marie Gey van Pittius.Private doctors, a coordinator from the health ministry’s Covid-19 team at the town, state nursing staff, the municipality, the private sector, health inspectors, physiotherapists, business people, lawyers and churches all joined hands to make the hospice a reality in record time, Borstlap said.“We received our certificate of fitness from the municipality and we are still waiting for the one from the state. We hope to open on Thursday. If not, we will be able to take in the first patients on Friday at the latest,” he told Namibian Sun’s sister publication Republiklein this week.Borstlap said the only requirement is that patients should be referred to the hospice by a doctor. These patients should be in the post-Covid phase, no longer need as much oxygen and need to be rehabilitated by physiotherapists.Teamwork makes the dream workDr Maritz Laubscher and physiotherapist Antje Pfaffrott are closely involved in the project, while his wife, Colia Borstlap, is in care of the nursing staff, he said.Vicky Laubscher is responsible for communications, while Mariette Badenhorst will coordinate catering for both the staff and the patients.Furthermore, lawyer Anneke Campbell offered to handle the documentation for the hospice’s registration.Zuan Brand will coordinate donations they’ve received, which will be used to buy medical equipment like oxygen concentrators.“The hospital beds were donated by Mediclinic and the Altersheim in Otjiwarongo,” Borstlap said.He added that he has immense gratitude for how all the stakeholders pulled together to make the project a success in such a short amount of time.–ronelle@republikein.com.na

Covid: Otjiwarongo unites against virus

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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Covid: Otjiwarongo unites against virus

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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