Geingob must intervene at health
The National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) has urged President Hage Geingob to immediately intervene in the situation at the health ministry, which the party says has become a recipe for disaster.
Nudo's presidential spokesperson, Joseph Kauandenge, said Geingob must call health minister Bernhard Haufiku and his permanent secretary, Andreas Mwoombola, to order with immediate effect.
“Our citizens' health cannot be relegated to the back burner while both men are playing the blame game in closed air-conditioned offices while stroking their egos.
“Neither can and should the president allow our citizens' health to be played with in the form of a blackjack or roulette, in which both men are trying to prove who can outplay the other, while they are gambling with our people's health.”
Kauandenge said recent revelations by five doctors who wrote to Haufiku outlining grave concerns with regard to a shortage of medicines and equipment at state hospitals, should have put Geingob in a “combat mood” to intervene in this longstanding feud between the minister and his permanent secretary.
Namibian Sun reported last week that several doctors had written a hard-hitting letter to Haufiku which exposed the sorry state of the health facilities, as well as shortages of medicine and equipment at hospitals.
In the letter, the group expressed dissatisfaction with “unprecedented” shortages of basic supplies at the Katutura Intermediate and Windhoek Central hospitals that have reportedly been experienced for the last two months in operating theatres, wards and casualty departments. It appears that the two hospitals, as well as the Oshakati State Hospital, do not have sufficient suction catheters, nasogastric tubes that provide access to the stomach for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, sterile gowns, gloves, sterile drapes, and thoracotomy drains that are used to drain air, blood, bile, pus, or other fluids from the chest cavity. It was reported that the clash between Haufiku and Mwoombola was one of the reasons for the shortage of essential medicines.
“It is therefore imperative that the head of state call the two men and tell them to their face that this nonsense should come to an end and that they should work together in the interest of our citizens,” said Kauandenge.
He said Namibia's hospitals could not be allowed to be without essential medicines and equipment while people's lives are at stake, because of two “bulls that are fighting and marking their territories”.
The party said Geingob must intervene before it is too late and innocent lives are lost.
ELLANIE SMIT
Nudo's presidential spokesperson, Joseph Kauandenge, said Geingob must call health minister Bernhard Haufiku and his permanent secretary, Andreas Mwoombola, to order with immediate effect.
“Our citizens' health cannot be relegated to the back burner while both men are playing the blame game in closed air-conditioned offices while stroking their egos.
“Neither can and should the president allow our citizens' health to be played with in the form of a blackjack or roulette, in which both men are trying to prove who can outplay the other, while they are gambling with our people's health.”
Kauandenge said recent revelations by five doctors who wrote to Haufiku outlining grave concerns with regard to a shortage of medicines and equipment at state hospitals, should have put Geingob in a “combat mood” to intervene in this longstanding feud between the minister and his permanent secretary.
Namibian Sun reported last week that several doctors had written a hard-hitting letter to Haufiku which exposed the sorry state of the health facilities, as well as shortages of medicine and equipment at hospitals.
In the letter, the group expressed dissatisfaction with “unprecedented” shortages of basic supplies at the Katutura Intermediate and Windhoek Central hospitals that have reportedly been experienced for the last two months in operating theatres, wards and casualty departments. It appears that the two hospitals, as well as the Oshakati State Hospital, do not have sufficient suction catheters, nasogastric tubes that provide access to the stomach for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, sterile gowns, gloves, sterile drapes, and thoracotomy drains that are used to drain air, blood, bile, pus, or other fluids from the chest cavity. It was reported that the clash between Haufiku and Mwoombola was one of the reasons for the shortage of essential medicines.
“It is therefore imperative that the head of state call the two men and tell them to their face that this nonsense should come to an end and that they should work together in the interest of our citizens,” said Kauandenge.
He said Namibia's hospitals could not be allowed to be without essential medicines and equipment while people's lives are at stake, because of two “bulls that are fighting and marking their territories”.
The party said Geingob must intervene before it is too late and innocent lives are lost.
ELLANIE SMIT
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