The long-awaited Onamafila Primary Health Centre in Ohangwena's Oshikunde Constituency is officially open. The state-of-the-art facility was constructed at a cost of close to N$22 million.The construction of the clinic was plagued by numerous challenges over the past eight years.

The absence of an access road at the start of the project made it difficult for contractors to transport building materials, forcing several of them to abandon the construction site.

Although the clinic was completed in 2023, it could not become operational because essential plumbing materials had not been delivered due to procurement delays.

Following several interventions, the outstanding materials were eventually supplied and installed, paving the way for the facility's official opening.

Residents have welcomed the development, saying the clinic will spare them long and costly journeys to access healthcare services at Okongo District Hospital.

A resident of Onamafila village, Tusneld Josephsot, expressed her gratitude: "We are very thankful for the assistance; we thank the government, and we are rejoicing."

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Esperance Luvindao, reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring that quality healthcare services are accessible to all Namibians, regardless of where they live.

"How much more for a mother who is holding her child and when the nearest health care centre is 30 kilometres away, when a child is having epilepsy and when we launched this clinic, is it not that the governor and the minister want to be seen? or we just want to deliver fancy speeches; it is because of the impact that it will make for community members like yourself."

Ohangwena Governor Kadiva Hamutumwa welcomed the completion of the project, urging residents to make full use of the clinic and protect the facility.

"As I stand here today, it gives me satisfaction because a promise made is a promise fulfilled. When I left Onamafila Clinic last year, we made it a commitment with the Directorate of Health in the Ohangwena region and the regional council itself to make sure that we work and find a solution and ensure that Onamafila Clinic is open today."

The Onamafila Primary Health Center has three registered nurses, three enrolled nurses, five community health workers, one administrative officer, and two hygiene specialists.
The facility is expected to serve 7,500 residents from 24 villages.