The donation of three portable ultrasound probes to the Ministry of Health and Social Services should go a long way toward faster clinical assessments and improved patient turnover at public health centres. 

The Capricorn Foundation donated the medical transducers to alleviate congestion and avoid unnecessary referrals to hospitals and clinics..

The Capricorn Foundation's executive director, Marlize Horn, said the donation aligns with the foundation's commitment to strengthening healthcare access across Namibia, particularly in communities where diagnostic services remain limited.

"The ultrasound probes being donated today will be deployed at the Maxuilili Clinic in the Tobias Hainyeko constituency, a facility currently serving, according to our information, more than 46,000 residents. And its referral facility, the Katutura Health Centre, supports over 20,000 patients per month."

Minister of Health and Social Services Dr. Esperance Luvindao said when patients need to have a sonar done, they usually flock to the central regions because often required services are not available at local clinics and health facilities. 

"So this is important, particularly when we talk about the rural areas. When we talk about rural areas, the ministry is on a path to raise community health workers. I'd actually given them a challenge to raise 10,000 community health workers in the next five years. They've dropped that down to about 6,200 community health workers. So what does that mean? That means that community health workers, ultimately in the future, will be capacitated to be able to do basic scans."

Dr. Luvindao said the technology will help in early detection of maternal and emergency conditions, reduce scan backlogs, cut patient travel costs and strengthen primary healthcare, particularly in underserved areas.

"So what does that mean? This means that if a medical officer is working at a clinic in a rural area, and we have already started implementing this technology in local clinics, we aim to use it to improve our practices. But ultimately, the goal is to extend into the rural areas and semi-rural areas."

The donated medical equipment is valued at N$130,000.