The government has reiterated its commitment to providing quality healthcare services to citizens across the country.

The Heath and Social Services Minister Dr. Kalumbi Shangula said this while assessing progress on the ongoing construction of the Gcaruha Clinic. 

The process was abandoned several times over a 12-year period. 

Dr. Shangula was speaking at Gcaruha Village in the Musese Constituency, to mark the belated 33 years of Namibia's independence.

"In order to make health service accessible government has built within the past 33 years 75 new clinics, six new health centers, and four district hospitals more hospitals and clinics are in the pipeline."

He said his ministry appointed a contractor in November last year to complete the work.

Dr. Shangula informed the gathering that the clinic will reopen next week. 

"I know that it has been a long wait, but there is now light at the end of the tunnel, what is also important is that the clinic will be provided with temporary accommodation and I would like to inform you that as from Monday the 3rd of April, the clinic which will be hosted in one of the staff accommodation will be open."

The contractor is expected to complete the project by October this year.

Prior to the upgrade, Gcaruha Clinic was operating from a makeshift structure, which the minister says may have cost the government N$7 million by now.

Kavango West Governor Sirkka Ausiku at the event informed residents that the Nkurenkuru District Hospital is now back on the government budget for possible construction.

The groundbreaking for the District Hospital was held in 2014, but the project was put on hold along with many other government capital projects.