Most health facilities in the Kunene Region have access to information and communication technology.

The region has three district hospitals, three health centres, 28 clinics, 222 outreach points and one health point.

The information was shared during the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Communication Technology oversight visit.

The committee was informed that all districts' hospital wards are equipped with computers to access e-notifications and digital video conferences, and 85% of health facilities are connected to the internet.

Senior Health Programme Officer in the Kunene Region, Itumeleng Boois, says, "We also have pharmaceutical information desktops, which are word-based at the central base, which is CMS, in the regions as well as at the health facility to monitor pharmaceutical stocks. We also have electronic facilities stock cards, which are used to track the medication stock. We have electronic dispensing tools for the pharmacy for ART drugs. Out:

Health facilities are also using automated systems that produce e-birth and e-death notifications.

Their region, however, also faces some challenges.

"Inadequate numbers of computers at all levels due to recent recruitment of staff, unstable Opuwo network coverage and high cost of internet connectivity with low bandwidth are not a lack of competition; this means we are paying for a service; however, the facility is not always having internet because they are using VSAT."

The committee's chairperson Sebastian Karupu welcomed the ICT status and future plans for the region.

"I would like to commend the Ministry of Health; they did their presentation, they gave their challenges, and they also gave something which they think is an achievement; they even made some recommendations as to what they want to see for them to strive."