Justicia Shipena
The laundry unit at Okakarara District Hospital remains non-operational despite undergoing renovations.
This was revealed on Tuesday during an oversight visit by the parliamentary standing committee on gender equality, health and social services.
A total of N$15 million was allocated for the renovation of the hospital’s kitchen and laundry facilities.
The funding was provided under the 2021/22 to 2023/24 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework.
Construction work on both facilities has been completed. However, the laundry unit has not started operating due to unresolved problems with the sewage system.
In April 2024, then health minister Kalumbi Shangula said during the groundbreaking ceremony of Ombili Clinic in Otjiwarongo that projects completed in the Otjozondjupa region included the renovation of the Okakarara District Hospital kitchen and laundry.
He also said at the time that progress had been made with the installation of a solar heating system and a water softening plant for the two facilities.
Delays at the hospital date back several years. In 2017, the Okakarara Constituency Office delayed five construction projects across the constituency due to budget shortfalls, including the upgrading of Okakarara State Hospital.
Six years ago, former Okakarara constituency councillor Vetaruhe Kandorozu called on the Ministry of Health and Social Services to reconsider its decision to delay the completion of the hospital’s laundry and kitchen. He said then that construction had stopped in 2016.
The committee visited the hospital as part of its ongoing oversight work in the Otjozondjupa Region to assess service delivery and infrastructure challenges.
Hospital management reported a shortage of medical equipment, including specialised chairs for radiology and theatre services.
Management also said the hospital needs major renovations and expansion, noting that it has only one operating theatre, which limits the number of surgical procedures.
Additional staff housing and general wards are also needed to reduce pressure on existing facilities.
The committee also conducted oversight visits at Otjituuo and Coblenz clinics in the region.
The committee members were informed that, despite ongoing investment, several challenges continue to affect service delivery.
These include shortages of essential medicines, a lack of staff accommodation and gaps in human resources.
There is also a shortage of transport for patient referrals and outreach services, especially in areas with high rates of sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis and malaria.
During a visit to Otjiwarongo District Hospital, the committee was told that patients with tuberculosis, mental health conditions and chronic illnesses were all accommodated in one ward, raising the risk of cross-infection.
Members were also informed that the TB ward was closed and converted into a dialysis unit, which is not operational.
The committee further noted that the hospital does not have a seclusion room to accommodate aggressive patients, posing a risk to patients and health workers.
The committee members also expressed disappointment over leadership at Otjiwarongo District Hospital after the hospital director was not available to brief them on the progress of capital maintenance projects under the district capital programme.
Captions
Photo 1 – Members of the parliamentary standing committee on gender equality, health and social services during an oversight visit to Okakarara District Hospital.
Photo 2 – The upgraded laundry facility at Okakarara District Hospital remains unused due to unresolved sewage system problems.
- Photos: Parliament
