Geingob says Katutura hospital 'satisfactory'

President Hage Geingob has described the largely dilapidated Katutura State Hospital as generally clean and maintenance of its health equipment as satisfactory, after a brief visit to the facility on Friday.

His assessment drew the ire of Namibians on social media who charged that the head of state was being economical with the true state of affairs at the hospital.

Geingob paid a visit to the hospital just after lunch hour, seemingly as a surprise visit although the presidency has announced in advance that he was headed there.





The president also announced that these 'surprise visits' would become the norm during his second term.

Geingob's visit on Friday follows a social media outcry after photos published by Namibian Sun in 2017, showing the shocking lack of infection control at the hospital, resurfaced.

After the visit, Geingob said on Facebook the renovations to the hospital, which are currently underway and budgeted for, will lead to improvements in the quality of health services provided at the facility.

However, when asked when renovations will kick off, executive director in the health ministry Ben Nangombe told Namibian Sun that “the tenders will be advertised early in the new financial year”.

“I paid an unexpected inspection to the Katutura State Hospital. Katutura State Hospital was commissioned in 1973 and there has been wear and tear. However, the hospital is generally clean and maintenance of health equipment is satisfactory,” Geingob said on Facebook.

Meanwhile, leader of the official political opposition McHenry Venaani said Geingob is mendacious, and asked where these renovations are represented in the state budget.

Venaani also criticised Geingob's visit to the hospital as a knee-jerk reaction.

“His intention was not genuine. He went there to defend what is clearly not working. He should have visited lavatories, asked how many rats and cats are roaming the hospital. The falling walls are the new shelter for cats. For 30 years, no major renovations were ever done,” said Venaani.

During the hospital visit, a cleaner told the presidential press secretary that the toilets were locked.

These toilets remained locked during the duration of Geingob's visit.

When pressed on the state of the ward for malnourished children accommodated on the eighth floor, Geingob got upset.

“It is one place. How about the other places? They are going to fix it; it is a hospital.”

Political commentator Henning Melber responded on Twitter, saying it is one place too many.

“Geingob should not defend this but be in shock. Why not express concern instead? How will service delivery be improved if the visit is used as a propaganda tour while not caring at all about those the institution should serve, that is the patients? Caring for the people requires a different attitude,” Melber tweeted.



Damage control

Meanwhile, during the visit health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula told president Geingob that they are not experiencing a shortage of medicine at this point, despite a shortage of staff.

Shangula also told the president that 373 positions have been approved and will soon be filled.

“It will lessen the workload on the existing staff and prevent burnouts. It will also result in the long queues being reduced and the waiting time will be shorted. And, of course, the quality of services will be improved,” he said.

He added that Katutura Health Centre has been converted into a 24-hour centre and this has reduced the burden on the hospital.

Nangombe also told the president that the ministry is on the verge of signing an agreement with vocational training institutions to have students provide maintenance services to the hospital.

“We are also looking into hiring the latest equipment that is affordable to the ministry as it can save us money, while at the same time [allow us to] have that necessary equipment,” he said.

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JEMIMA BEUKES