The Chairperson of the Kavango East Regional Council, Damian Maghambayi, has called on the government to review the policy that informs which communities can receive clinics.

Maghambayi, who is also the Mukwe Constituency Councillor, says many communities in his constituency are deprived of much-needed medical attention as a result of this policy.

Speaking at the launch of a mobile clinic at Andara Roman Catholic Hospital, Maghambayi said many people die while waiting for an ambulance to take them to the hospital.

According to him, the situation is exacerbated by a lack of access roads from the inland to health facilities in emergency situations.

Maghambayi says at least three people died early this year in the remote areas of Mukwe while waiting to be transported to the hospital.

"I call upon the Ministry of Health and Social Services to review and relax its policy on the criteria for the construction of a clinic that demands a larger population of the inhabitants, while forgetting that some inhabitants do not necessarily live in a large number for purposes of farming but are scattered in small units, hence they equally deserve health care services as citizens of this country."

He thus thanked Barbara Muller, who donated to the Mudiro Mobile Clinic, for the gesture, saying it will bring relief to many in need of critical primary health care services, especially expectant mothers.

"I should admit that health care services in this country are a concerted effort that requires stakeholders such as the private sector, civil society, and non-governmental organizations to come on board and assist the government where possible. Today, I am happy that Mudiro, an NGO that started from a humble beginning, is now transforming the lives of our people in remote areas by providing adequate health care and social services, specifically in Mukwe. This demonstrates the commitment of Mudiro to work closely with our government and fill the gap where the government finds it challenging to render such services."

Muller says she founded Mudiro, a non-governmental organization, after her daughter, who was on holiday with her, fell ill and received treatment at Andara Hospital eight years ago.

Muller says the mobile clinic is her way of appreciating and giving back to the community of Mukwe.

"Since 2020, the idea of doing more outreach for the rural areas where people who cannot afford or do not have transportation come to the clinic arose, so the idea of a mobile clinic was born."

There are six clinics and one district hospital in the Mukwe constituency, most of them situated along the Trans-Zambezi Highway.