The Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, has called on health centres not to allow challenges that require immediate solutions to persist, saying some minor issues do not need to go through the bureaucratic system for approval to be corrected.

Dr. Shangula made these remarks at Omatako Clinic, where he concluded his visits to health facilities in the Otjozondjupa Region.

The team, including the regional health management, visited the health facilities in Okakarara, Grootfontein, Etunda, Otavi, and Kombat.

They also visited clinics at Gam, Tsumkwe, Mangetti Dune, and Omatako.

Although Dr. Shangula was not able to cover all health facilities in the region, he says he covered a fair representation of the region.

Summing up his visit, the minister says some minor yet serious issues have been left unattended for way too long.

"There are some challenges in our health facilities, some of the defects of which we allow to persist for a long time. Issues of bulbs being blown out, issues of taps leaking water, and many other small things. I always maintain that when it comes to water and power, these are emergencies, and they should not wait to go through the bureaucratic system for them to be addressed. These are things that should be attended to within a few hours."

He says no health facility should be without a proper sewage system, electricity, or water, as they need to be in working condition at all times.

Dr. Shangula says there is flexibility within the procurement system to attend to emergencies, which the health and political leaderships should make use of, adding that emergencies should not exceed 24 hours.

He praised the good relationship between the political leadership and the health sector in the Otjozondjupa Region.

"And I am extremely happy that in Otjozondjupa, the link between the health sector and the political leadership is commendable. And that's what I mentioned, that throughout my visit I was accompanied by both the political leadership and the health sector leadership, including the traditional authority leadership. It's something very commendable, and I would hope that this cooperation and energy continue in the future."

Dr. Shangula commended the health workers in the region for their commitment, dedication, and resilience toward their work, even under trying circumstances.