In a significant community-driven effort, the residents of Otshikutshatshipya Village in the Omusati Region, along with local businesspeople, have successfully built a new and improved outreach point.
The new Alugodhi Outreach Point replaces the original structure established in 1986, which had fallen into disrepair, prompting the community to mobilize resources for a much-needed upgrade.
This community-based healthcare facility is designed to provide integrated primary healthcare services. These include preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative care, with healthcare workers regularly deployed to serve the village.
Health and Social Services Minister Dr. Kalumbi Shangula officially inaugurated the new outreach centre. He praised the community's initiative, saying, "I commend the people of Otshikutshatshipya for their remarkable effort in constructing this beautiful health outreach point. This health post is part of the ministry's strategy to expand healthcare access, particularly to underserved areas."
Dr. Shangula also emphasized the importance of preventive healthcare, urging community members to adopt healthier lifestyles to prevent the spread of diseases. "Good healthcare begins at home, not in clinics or hospitals. I encourage everyone to avoid excessive alcohol consumption, sugary foods, and smoking, which contribute to prevalent diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes."
He also addressed the public's concern regarding the Mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, assuring the community that no cases had been reported in Namibia.
Omusati Governor Erginus Endjala and Otshikutshatshipya Headwoman Elisabeth Nashilongo were also present at the ceremony. The governor pledged to assist with some of the challenges facing the new clinic, including the lack of electricity and cement for finishing work. He promised to explore options for including the clinic in the rural electrification programme and to donate 25 bags of cement for plastering the clinic walls.
The community expressed pride and excitement for the new outreach point, recognizing its potential to improve healthcare delivery in the village. "We used to suffer a lot during the rainy season, even before the gravel road existed," a community member shared, "but now we look forward to better health services and a brighter future."
The establishment of the Alugodhi Outreach Point is a testament to the power of community collaboration and a milestone in expanding healthcare services in rural Namibia.