Members of the National Council (NC) have raised concerns regarding challenges affecting different regions, such as access to health facilities, shortage of medical staff and the need for improved services in rural and remote areas.
The MPs were contributing to the Health and Social Services budget.
In his contribution, councillor Andreas Amundjindi for the Uukwiyuushona Constituency stressed, "I still appeal to the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) to continue to recruit unemployed nurses, doctors and other professionals to make sure that clinics and health centres have got enough professionals or enough personnel. And also they should make sure that clinics, health centres and hospitals are having adequate medicine because this budget of the ministry is now able to address the shortage of medicine in clinics, in health centres and in hospitals."
The MPs emphasised the importance of strengthening the health system by building more clinics and providing reliable ambulance services across communities.
Augusta Katembo, councillor for Mukwe Constituency, adds, "The health care situation in Kavango Constituency, in the Kavango region, particularly in Mukwe Constituency, remains a challenge due to the vast distance between settlements and the health facilities. I strongly request the establishment of clinics to cater to the inland communities."
"We seriously need an expansion on the hospital locator for the increased population, the construction of a maternity ward, pharmacies and the stores, a paediatric ward, as well as the district storeroom," emphasised Okahandja Constituency councillor Bethuel Tjaveondja.
Matheus Hangula serves as councillor for Tsumeb Constituency.
"Oshikoto regions still face many challenges, ranging from lack of ambulances and, more especially, 4x4s because the majority of the Oshikoto region is very remote; they have got a lot of remote constituencies, and some of these ambulances do not reach some of those remote constituencies because of the nature of those constituencies."