Tent schools still a reality
A shortage of school infrastructure and the provision of water and sanitation in informal settlements are some of the challenges facing the Khomas regional council.
The Khomas Region still has to teach children in tents because of a shortage of schools, says Rachel Jacob, the chairperson of the Khomas regional council.
Speaking at the official start of the council's activities for the year, Jacob said ten classrooms had been built in Windhoek since the start of the academic year to accommodate first-graders.
The classrooms were built at the Rocky Crest, Otjomuise, Michele Mclean, Moses Garoeb and Fidel Castro primary schools.
She added that tent classrooms and temporary toilets were also erected to accommodate learners at the overcrowded Abraham Iyambo, Havana Project Secondary and Monte Christo Project Primary schools.
“In terms of infrastructure development, a matron's living quarters and a dining hall were constructed at Kwakwas Primary School in the Windhoek Rural constituency and one small ablution block was constructed at Moreson School,” she said.
Health
She added that the region now has 26 000 HIV-positive patients on anti-retroviral treatment, compared to 24 000 last year.
“All people who test HIV positive are put on treatment on the same day of diagnosis, unlike in the past when it used to take time to put them on treatment. All pregnant women who attend antenatal care are tested for HIV in order to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV,” she said.
She added that the region was still facing a serious lack of basic services such as access to water and proper sanitation, which had led to an outbreak of hepatitis E in informal settlements.
“The influx of people coming from rural areas to seek employment, better living conditions and tertiary education in the region continues to hamper service delivery in our region and puts a strain on our existing infrastructure and general resources,” she said.
The region had earmarked N$2 million for addressing the hepatitis E outbreak and has budgeted an additional N$7.2 million for the 2018/2019 financial year.
According to Jacobs N$6 million will be transferred to the City of Windhoek for the provision of water and sanitation in informal settlements.
N$1.2 million will be used to construct 70 toilets at informal settlements in four constituencies in the region.
Land
According to Jacobs, Farm Versailles just outside Windhoek, where 86 households had been resettled, has attracted evicted farmworkers and has become a breeding ground of crime, illegal subletting, poaching and vandalism.
According to her an assessment report with recommendations was compiled which will give stakeholders the best strategies to solve the challenges at Farm Versailles.
She added that the regional council's land office had carried out an assessment and demarcated four farms - Farm Lauwater Sued, Farm Sannieshof, Farm Wassevallei and Farm Barreshagen - for resettlement.
JEMIMA BEUKES
Speaking at the official start of the council's activities for the year, Jacob said ten classrooms had been built in Windhoek since the start of the academic year to accommodate first-graders.
The classrooms were built at the Rocky Crest, Otjomuise, Michele Mclean, Moses Garoeb and Fidel Castro primary schools.
She added that tent classrooms and temporary toilets were also erected to accommodate learners at the overcrowded Abraham Iyambo, Havana Project Secondary and Monte Christo Project Primary schools.
“In terms of infrastructure development, a matron's living quarters and a dining hall were constructed at Kwakwas Primary School in the Windhoek Rural constituency and one small ablution block was constructed at Moreson School,” she said.
Health
She added that the region now has 26 000 HIV-positive patients on anti-retroviral treatment, compared to 24 000 last year.
“All people who test HIV positive are put on treatment on the same day of diagnosis, unlike in the past when it used to take time to put them on treatment. All pregnant women who attend antenatal care are tested for HIV in order to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV,” she said.
She added that the region was still facing a serious lack of basic services such as access to water and proper sanitation, which had led to an outbreak of hepatitis E in informal settlements.
“The influx of people coming from rural areas to seek employment, better living conditions and tertiary education in the region continues to hamper service delivery in our region and puts a strain on our existing infrastructure and general resources,” she said.
The region had earmarked N$2 million for addressing the hepatitis E outbreak and has budgeted an additional N$7.2 million for the 2018/2019 financial year.
According to Jacobs N$6 million will be transferred to the City of Windhoek for the provision of water and sanitation in informal settlements.
N$1.2 million will be used to construct 70 toilets at informal settlements in four constituencies in the region.
Land
According to Jacobs, Farm Versailles just outside Windhoek, where 86 households had been resettled, has attracted evicted farmworkers and has become a breeding ground of crime, illegal subletting, poaching and vandalism.
According to her an assessment report with recommendations was compiled which will give stakeholders the best strategies to solve the challenges at Farm Versailles.
She added that the regional council's land office had carried out an assessment and demarcated four farms - Farm Lauwater Sued, Farm Sannieshof, Farm Wassevallei and Farm Barreshagen - for resettlement.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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