The Ministry of Health and Social Services has responded to the incident that took place at Ndama Clinic in Rundu, where a grade one learner was refused treatment because the child did not come with a piece of paper that would temporarily serve as a health passport. 

The clinic staff had told the teacher who brought the learner for treatment to go back to the school and get paper, as the clinic did not have any. 

In a statement released by the Ministry of Health on Friday, 31 October, the ministry says the initial allocation of 30 health passports to the Ndama clinic was exhausted by the time of the incident. 

The statement also says the clinic failed to use readily available blank paper endorsed with the official clinic stamp. 

The clinic has since received 200 health passports and one ream of paper. 

The statement reveals that a comprehensive staff accountability assessment is underway and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against any staff member found to have acted negligently or contrary to established protocols. 

The ministry also says the learner who was turned away has since received the necessary medical attention at the health facility.