Strengthening primary health care is crucial to ensure early detection of illnesses and timely access to treatment. These were the remarks of the Executive Director of the Ministry of Health and Social Service, Penda Ithindi, during the handover of medical equipment and supplies by the National Assembly.
Receiving the donation, Executive Director Penda Ithindi said it is a fact that the country's health system continues to grapple with shortages of vital medical equipment and essential supplies.
He added that health facilities and health workers often struggle to deliver timely services because basic diagnostic and treatment tools are inadequate.
"This donation could not have come at a better time in the odyssey of our health care system. The current conjuncture and value proposition in the health and social services sector is to decongest and elevate the level and quality of service delivery across the entire service value chain."
The donation is a result of a surplus donation that the National Assembly received from China in the establishment of its emergency clinic three years ago.
The emergency clinic was established following the death of two members of parliament, Lotto Kuushomwa, who collapsed during a National Council session in 2019, and Ignatius Shixwameni, who also collapsed at parliament while attending a standing committee meeting in 2021.
"Prof. Katjavivi decided to do something, and it was identified that we need a clinic at parliament. Not being registered or following the right channel, he reached out to development partners, and luckily the embassy of China came on board to assist us with a fully fledged clinic at Parliament with the much-needed equipment, and upon realisation he also realised that we were given too much and there is no need to keep some of the equipment that we don't need.
The clinic supplies will include four electronic blood pressure monitors, 183 medical electronic thermometers, 39 wheelchairs and two electronic cardiographic machines.
"As a close development partner, China is ready to provide assistance to our friends here for your goal of providing an even better health service to your people, and China is now a health-leading nation in manufacturing equipment, and this equipment was all made in China."
The medical equipment and supplies will be distributed to the Groot Aub Clinic, Dordabis Clinic and Baumgartsbraun Clinic.
They are meant to directly strengthen the capacity of the health facilities in the areas of early diagnosis, timely intervention, and improved patient management by empowering frontline health workers to improve the quality of health outcomes.