Otjinene Councillor Eben-Ezer Kauapirura says the shortage of emergency vehicles in the region is impacting patients negatively, calling for urgent intervention.

Kauapirura said it has become difficult for one ambulance to serve the entire region.

In a letter dated 12 June to the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Kauapirura pointed out critical matters affecting the healthcare system in the region.

These include fatalities, which he attributed to the long waiting hours of an ambulance, non-functional ambulance services, critical shortages of medicines, poor patient care and unfulfilled infrastructure commitments.

Kauapirura says the nearest available ambulance is stationed in Gobabis, approximately 160 kilometres away.

He said in December last year, local businesses and good Samaritans from Otjinene raised N$4200 to replace the ambulance's windscreen.

However, Kauapirura stated that despite the repairs, the Omaheke Health Directorate took the vehicle, citing that it needed servicing before it could return to operation.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services' spokesperson, Walters Kamaya, says they are aware of the ambulance shortage.

"As we speak now, we have three more extra ambulances responsible for the Omaheke region. The one for Otjinene, we have just tried to put our heads together, and then we have asked the colleagues on the ground to get us the quotations and send them to the head office to our transport department, and then our transport department will be able to increase the credit limit on the card so that they can get also that one up and running."

He also outlined the steps being taken to resolve operational challenges. 

"When it comes to these emergency vehicles, it's something that we treat urgently; it's something that we cannot spare anything to get them fixed. The reason why when I try to engage the colleagues to say that, you know, some colleagues on the ground are still finding their way between the decentralisation – if we record, we just decentralise it very soon to the Omaheke Regional Council, and then the system there; they are still trying to master the system and so forth. They are facing challenges when it comes to print purchase, others, and so forth. So the system is being set up. So as soon as the system is clear or it's user-friendly, they should be able to use it."

The Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Suzan Ndjaleka, acknowledged the receipt of the letter.