The Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, says service delivery in the Kavango East health directorate is set to improve with the allocation of more than N$217 million from the national budget.
Dr. Shangula, who was speaking at the World Health Day celebrations in Rundu on Monday, says the Ministry of Health is undertaking various capital projects countrywide, and significant changes are expected to take place in Kavango East.
These include ICU and dialysis-related services.
"The Ministry embarked on the establishment of ICUs at various hospitals around the country, and for Rundu Intermediate Hospital, construction commenced on February 7 for a 12-bed facility. The project is anticipated to be completed by October 7, 2024. The total contract value of the project is N$9,829.005.13, inclusive of the dialysis unit. The government spends upwards of N$100 million every financial year on renal dialysis care by referring state patients to private facilities. The Ministry has thus embarked on the creation of a dialysis unit with a capacity of eight chairs within Rundu Intermediate Hospital. This project is being undertaken as part of the intensive care unit construction."
Psychiatric and hospital waste-related services in Rundu are also set to improve, according to Dr. Shangula.
"The Ministry has taken note of the lack of appropriate facilities for psychiatric inpatient and outpatient services. A feasibility study to this effect has been commissioned to aid in the design and construction of psychiatric units in all hospitals. The incinerator at Rundu Intermediate Hospital is not functioning optimally. As an emergency, a contractor has been appointed to refurbish the incinerator. The Ministry is working on a long-term solution for the procurement of a new incinerator as well as the new positioning of the incinerator."
The minister called for improved health awareness among communities, starting at home.
"Governments and other institutions must do more to deliver the services that our people need,
wherever they are without suffering financial hardship. This is achievable and doable through the efficient allocation and use of available resources and the involvement of communities and affected individuals. This means that each one of us must take our health seriously because good health must start in our homes and in our communities."
The World Health Day Commemoration, which was held under the theme "My Health, My Right," started with a march in the CBD area and ended with various health screenings for the general public.