Donors and volunteers in the community of Omatjete settlement in the Erongo Region have completed renovations of a health center.
Dr Kalumbi Shangula, Minister of Health and Social Services, has praised the community's charitable spirit as it improves service delivery.
At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the community of Omatjete realized the need to strengthen public health care as the clinic was overloaded.
Traditional leaders and the Omatjete Initiative Committee mobilized community members and relatives from abroad to donate money and their services.
A small empty building received a facelift as a result, to serve Omatjete and surrounding areas as a health center.
The settlement is located in the Daures Constituency of the Erongo Region.
Lazarus Ngario is a member of the Omatjete Initiative Committee. "The collective efforts of this initiative have indeed taught us a lesson: working together, we can achieve our common goals. We urge the Omatjete community to safeguard and protect these and other state-owned resources from vandalism and abuse, for the greater benefit of the community."
Ombara Manesse Zeraua informed the community that the Zeraua Traditional Authority had requested that a mining company, Damara Exploration, donate funds for the renovation as well as medical items to the health center.
"My chieftaincy played a big role in making sure that this center exists and that you receive the medication that you are receiving today, and we are grateful for that. We have availed ourselves of this community to work together with the government because we are part of it."
The Minister of Health and Social Services revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic put a heavy burden on the public healthcare system over the past two years.
Dr. Kalumbi Shangula thus highlighted the importance of partnerships in service delivery as a key response.
"Today we are witnessing how the community of Omatjete has done its part to contribute to the improvement of public health delivery. I, therefore, encourage you to continue with this spirit of civic responsibility, which will no doubt go a long way toward making our communities better. A healthy community is a productive community."
To expand access to better health care, Dr. Shangula noted that the ministry will continue to acquire medical equipment and clinical supplies and train young Namibians to be able to render reliable service.