Hospital projects shelved
Hospital projects shelved

Hospital projects shelved

Budget cuts have forced the shelving of clinics, health centres and a district hospital in the Kavango West Region.
Kenya Kambowe
Due to budgetary constraints, the health ministry has placed the construction of five facilities in the Kavango West Region on hold.

These projects include the construction of clinics and health centres at Nkurenkuru, Dcwatjinga, Gcaruhwa and Rupara, as well as the construction of a district hospital which has been in limbo for more than three years now.

“Due to budgetary constraints the Ministry of Health and Social Services had to shelve some of the planned construction projects. The ministry, however, has committed to continue with the ongoing contracts. All new projects will be undertaken in the coming financial year pending the availability of funds,” health ministry spokesperson Manga Libita said upon enquiry.

The issue of incomplete and abandoned infrastructure was also mentioned extensively in the recent state of the region address by the governor of Kavango West, Sirkka Ausiku, who expressed concern over the matter.

During a recent visit to Kavango West, Namibian Sun observed that the clinic built at Nkurenkuru was standing idle and according to locals it has been the case for more than two years.

“Please go and ask those with answers as to when this clinic will be used as we have not been informed of anything and nothing is going on here,” a concerned resident said.

According to the ministry the delays with the clinic are due to non-performance by the contractor.

“The construction of the Nkurenkuru clinic, which is part of the district hospital component, is ongoing, however delays are being experienced with regard to the non-performance of the contractor,” Libita said.

According to a Nampa report earlier this year, the contractor of the project, Shafombabi Eedopi Construction, was supposed to complete the facility on 15 April 2015 but had completed only 70% of the work.

A two-year delay in the delivery of materials from South Africa was cited.

It was further reported that of the budgeted N$28 million, N$22 million had already been spent.

Namibians Sun understands that the outstanding work includes the installation of a generator, electrical wiring and fire extinguishers.

Local people further asked why a large piece of land had been fenced by the ministry. They said they had been informed that a hospital would be built there but nothing happened.

The plot in question was set aside for the construction of the Nkurenkuru District Hospital, which is situated along the main road.

According to the ministry, the hospital project can only start once the clinic is completed.

Apart from the construction projects that were put on ice, the training of 50 health extension workers was also put on hold due to budget cuts.

KENYA KAMBOWE

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Namibian Sun 2024-03-28

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Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 233.12/OZ UP +1.93% | Copper US$ 3.99/lb UP +0.12% | Zinc US$ 2 455.50/T UP 0% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 87.65/BBP UP +1.46% | Platinum US$ 908.62/OZ UP +1.53%