The Head of the Otjiwarongo District Hospital, Shiwana Amesho, says the hospital needs to be upgraded to cater for the growing population and increasing number of accidents on the B1 road.

Dr. Amesho made these remarks during the visit of the Otjiwarongo Constituency Councillor to the health facilities.

Situated along the B1 road and near a high-risk accident zone, Otjiwarongo State Hospital frequently receives accident victims.

However, the hospital lacks sufficient manpower, including doctors and pharmacists, and its infrastructure has deteriorated over the years

"Currently, this hospital is served by only eight medical officers, two specialists, and three senior medical officers—one being myself as the head of the district, and the other two running departments. For comparison, this is the same number of staff typically managing a single department in larger hospitals such as Katutura, Oshakati, or Onadjokwe," said Dr. Amesho.

The hospital also requires plumbing and electrical services. 

Medical waste is sometimes sent to Windhoek for disposal because the Otjiwarongo incinerator has limited capacity.

The hospital also caters to other public health facilities and, at times, private ones. 

Dr. Amesho said the regional referral hospital that has been in the pipeline for the past nine years will help lift weight off the Otjiwarongo State Hospital once realised.

"If we get that hospital eventually, it will come with equipment; eventually the staff complement will speak to the population. It will really, in our opinion, not only capacitate us to be able to respond swiftly to road accidents on the B1 that we are faced with."

Otjiwarongo Constituency Councillor Paulus Nekundi also visited the clinics in the Ombili and Orwetoveni residential areas, which are serving more than 20,000 residents. 

He wishes to see Ombili Clinic transformed into a 24-hour health centre capable of providing observation and admission services.

There is also such a need in Kalkfeld.

"We recommend Kalkfeld to be turned into a health centre, as it will help looking at the distance from there to here and also the distance to other surrounding farms. For example, if a person is bitten by a snake, will that person make it to Otjiwarongo Hospital?"

Otjiwarongo District Hospital has only three ambulances, which serve the Otavi Health Centre and five other clinics, with one ambulance stationed at Osire.