Speaker of the National Assembly Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila made a surprise visit to the Children's Paediatric Ward at the Windhoek Central Hospital.

The visit is part of the Speaker's parliamentary outreach programme, which is aimed at strengthening engagement with key public service institutions.

Dr Kuugongelwa-Amadhila says the public health system is a safety net for the nation's wellbeing. 

"It should be the fulfilment and the respect of the full rights of individuals, including their right to live a life of dignity free from diseases and to realise their full potential, and that is what our government is trying to do."

She further says she appreciates the goodwill of existing international healthcare professionals who aid in healthcare facilities countrywide.

Paediatric cardiologist Dr Fenny Shidhika says managing healthcare requires multisectoral collaborations, and education is one that needs to be highly targeted to get a critical talent pool and capacity.

"You need a well-educated country, and if you don't have that, then you will never be able to generate the amount of critical capacity that you need to manage healthcare."

Dr Shidhika further emphasises that the education and health sectors go hand in hand and says that's where the value is because unhealthy people cannot generate GDP.

The Speaker handed over toiletries and educational devices.