Omaheke Governor Urges Officials to Use State Hospitals Amid Infrastructure Boost

Healthcare Infrastructure and Financial Investment

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has directed significant funding toward maintaining and rehabilitating healthcare infrastructure across Omaheke. According to the governor, these efforts aim to enhance the safety and reliability of medical services. Key infrastructure investments highlighted by the governor include:

• Gobabis District Hospital: Installation of a 350kVA back-up power generator valued at N$1.2 million, alongside N$35,575 for main entrance rehabilitation and N$14,914 for washing lines and glazing.
• Epako Primary Health Care and Regional Council: N$397,424 spent on window repairs, tiling, plumbing, and interlocks.
• Epako Clinic: N$347,013 allocated for minor renovations to the central ablution facility.
• Eiseb Primary Health Care: N$85,796 invested in upgrading the sewer line system connected to the oxidation pond.
• Otjinene Healthcare Centre: N$102,193 allocated for the renovation of the doctor’s flat.
• Epukiro Primary Healthcare Clinic: N$46,449 spent on emergency sewer line replacement and manhole unblocking.

To bolster human resource capacity, the ministry has appointed 92 new staff members, including medical officers, pharmacists, registered nurses, social workers, and technical personnel. Additionally, seven health professionals received support to pursue specialized studies in fields such as clinical diagnosis, emergency nursing, and pediatric care.

Persistent Challenges in Regional Healthcare

Despite the infrastructure improvements, Nganate acknowledged substantial operational hurdles. He reported that 34 of the 53 hospital vehicles in the region remain grounded due to a lack of funding for repairs and tire replacements. To mitigate these transport gaps, the ministry currently collaborates with government garages and utilizes private ambulance services when necessary. The regional leadership continues to advocate for the acquisition of a 52-seater bus to safely transport referral patients to Windhoek.

Broader Development and Regional Disparities

Nganate’s address also touched upon broader regional development, including agriculture, housing, and sports infrastructure. He noted that the agriculture sector employs approximately 29% of the region’s population. Through the Dryland Crop Production Programme, cultivated land expanded from 500 hectares to over 800 hectares during the latest season, supported by the deployment of 17 government tractors. However, these development claims have faced scrutiny from community members. Community activist Philip Prinze argued that the governor’s assessment does not reflect the reality for residents living outside urban centers. Prinze pointed to a lack of tangible change in communal areas and constituencies near Windhoek, citing high unemployment and stalled projects, such as the Witvlei water treatment plant, which has remained unfinished for over a decade.

Social Services and Youth Empowerment

In the social sector, the governor highlighted an increase in Early Childhood Development (ECD) enrollment, which rose from 13,331 to 16,511 learners. The region distributed 2,000 bags of instant porridge and improved water access at 114 ECD centers. Furthermore, over N$12 million in social grants was disbursed to 17,614 beneficiaries. Despite these figures, Nganate identified critical gaps in social protection. The region currently lacks emergency shelters for vulnerable individuals, and social service delivery is strained by a severe shortage of personnel, with only three social workers serving the entire region. The governor noted that these resource constraints, combined with staff burnout, often force the diversion of funds from long-term programs to address immediate emergency needs.