Tsumkwe patients to be airlifted
Health minister Bernard Haufiku has submitted an appeal to Cabinet to use army helicopters to airlift critically ill patients from Tsumkwe to hospitals.
This followed a recent familiarisation visit to the Tsumkwe clinic, where Haufiku learned about the long distances and poor conditions of roads to towns such as Grootfontein or Rundu.
The minister said he was informed that some patients died along the way as a result of the long distances.
“I am therefore grateful to both defence minister Penda ya Ndakolo and works minister Alfeus !Naruseb, who both in principle responded positively to our kind request to deploy army helicopters to airlift patients from distant places to health facilities,” said Haufiku.
The minister expressed hope that this arrangement can be implemented next month, or by January at the latest.
He added that the fuel costs would be paid by the treasury and from the health ministry''s budget.
“Only those that are critically ill or had severe trauma and need to be admitted to intensive care units, especially pregnant mothers, post deliveries and small babies, will be airlifted by the works ministry''s Lear Jet from Katima, Ondangwa and Luderitz to Windhoek,” said Haufiku.
The distance from Tsumkwe to Grootfontein is about 400km of gravel road. Tsumkwe is a constituency in the Otjozondjupa Region, with a population of about 10 000.
JEMIMA BEUKES
This followed a recent familiarisation visit to the Tsumkwe clinic, where Haufiku learned about the long distances and poor conditions of roads to towns such as Grootfontein or Rundu.
The minister said he was informed that some patients died along the way as a result of the long distances.
“I am therefore grateful to both defence minister Penda ya Ndakolo and works minister Alfeus !Naruseb, who both in principle responded positively to our kind request to deploy army helicopters to airlift patients from distant places to health facilities,” said Haufiku.
The minister expressed hope that this arrangement can be implemented next month, or by January at the latest.
He added that the fuel costs would be paid by the treasury and from the health ministry''s budget.
“Only those that are critically ill or had severe trauma and need to be admitted to intensive care units, especially pregnant mothers, post deliveries and small babies, will be airlifted by the works ministry''s Lear Jet from Katima, Ondangwa and Luderitz to Windhoek,” said Haufiku.
The distance from Tsumkwe to Grootfontein is about 400km of gravel road. Tsumkwe is a constituency in the Otjozondjupa Region, with a population of about 10 000.
JEMIMA BEUKES
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article