A staggering number of reported child abuse cases are piling up at the offices of the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare (MGEPESW).

Deputy Minister Bernadette Jagger says her ministry continues to collaborate with stakeholders, particularly the police and the prosecution, to ensure that victims receive the required care.

Within its limited human resources structure, Jagger says her ministry has managed to second social workers to the gender-based violence protection units in the |Khomas , Kavango East, Oshana, and Kunene regions.

The newly appointed Ohangwena Regional Governor, Sebastian Ndeitunga, says he will adapt to the new political environment in this phase of his career and be a servant of the people.

Ndeitunga remarked this morning at Eenhana as he officially took office and met the regional leadership in his new role.

Ohangwena Health Director John Hango expressed satisfaction with the increase in the number of key health professionals, mainly doctors, dentists, and pharmacists.

Hango says Okongo and Eenhana district hospitals, which were previously managed by only one doctor, now have sizeable numbers of doctors.

Okongo now has three, Eenhana has 10, and Engela has 13.

Each hospital has at least one pharmacist and a dentist.

The Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa, has announced phase two of the upgrade on the Charlie Cutline Road, 70 kilometres west of Rundu.

The second phase is set to run for six months, covering at least 35 kilometres at a cost of N$29.8 million.

The road connects the Kavango East, Kavango West, Oshikoto, and Ohangwena regions.

The second phase of the upgrade has already started, and it has so far covered 10 kilometres.

NamWater is working on the rehabilitation of its canal in an effort to ensure that the northern communities have access to an ample supply of clean drinking water.

Two particularly significant portions, Omahenene and Olushandja, have already undergone thorough refurbishment, incurring costs that exceed N$60 million.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics and Public Administration wants to see TransNamib transformed to offer services par excellence and have an integrated master plan to maximise return on investment.

 
The Committee was in the Otjozondjupa Region, where it familiarised itself with the dilapidated structures belonging to the parastatal.

The oversight visit follows recommendations to TransNamib by the Ministry of Works and Transport and stakeholders to introduce a master plan integrating air, road, rail, and maritime transportation modes.