Uerikua pleads for completion of hospital referral facility
ESTER KAMATI
OTJIWARONGO
Despite a referral hospital with an intensive care unit having been planned and approved for the Otjozondjupa Region, construction on the facility has yet to commence.
This according to governor James Uerikua, who during his state of the region address said land had been acquired and fenced off, but the construction had been delayed, which has contributed to existing facilities becoming overwhelmed.
“The delay in the construction of this hospital exerts further pressure on the regional health system,” he said, urging the health ministry to prioritise the construction of the referral hospital.
“It would be of grave importance in the central part of the country,” he added.
The region has four health districts - Okahandja, Okakarara, Otjiwarongo and Grootfontein. The Grootfontein district extends to the Tsumkwe constituency, including Mangetti Dune and Gam, which is about 400km away from the town.
“This results in a lot of challenges in healthcare provision in Tsumkwe constituency.”
Uerikua said it is vital that Tsumkwe become a stand-alone health district, which he said is a matter of priority.
He further thanked the health ministry for contributing ambulances to the districts.
Demand
The region has a recorded a shortfall of 200 beds, despite 416 beds being available in the districts.
The highest demand was recorded in Okakarara where 60 beds are required, followed by Okahandja, which has 44 beds and requires 50 more.
Otjozondjupa currently has 10 oxygen concentrators and requires at least 20 more to meet the demand. The highest demand is in Otjiwarongo, where 600 litres per minute of oxygen are required, while only 30 litres per minute are available.
Only 10.22% of the targeted 19 032-strong population has so far been vaccinated, while the Covid-19 infection rate stands at 35% in Otjiwarongo, 31.2% in Okahandja and 13.9% in Okakarara.
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OTJIWARONGO
Despite a referral hospital with an intensive care unit having been planned and approved for the Otjozondjupa Region, construction on the facility has yet to commence.
This according to governor James Uerikua, who during his state of the region address said land had been acquired and fenced off, but the construction had been delayed, which has contributed to existing facilities becoming overwhelmed.
“The delay in the construction of this hospital exerts further pressure on the regional health system,” he said, urging the health ministry to prioritise the construction of the referral hospital.
“It would be of grave importance in the central part of the country,” he added.
The region has four health districts - Okahandja, Okakarara, Otjiwarongo and Grootfontein. The Grootfontein district extends to the Tsumkwe constituency, including Mangetti Dune and Gam, which is about 400km away from the town.
“This results in a lot of challenges in healthcare provision in Tsumkwe constituency.”
Uerikua said it is vital that Tsumkwe become a stand-alone health district, which he said is a matter of priority.
He further thanked the health ministry for contributing ambulances to the districts.
Demand
The region has a recorded a shortfall of 200 beds, despite 416 beds being available in the districts.
The highest demand was recorded in Okakarara where 60 beds are required, followed by Okahandja, which has 44 beds and requires 50 more.
Otjozondjupa currently has 10 oxygen concentrators and requires at least 20 more to meet the demand. The highest demand is in Otjiwarongo, where 600 litres per minute of oxygen are required, while only 30 litres per minute are available.
Only 10.22% of the targeted 19 032-strong population has so far been vaccinated, while the Covid-19 infection rate stands at 35% in Otjiwarongo, 31.2% in Okahandja and 13.9% in Okakarara.
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