Tujoromajo Kasuto
DEPUTY Minister of the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS),Esther Muinjangue, says the ministry can never have enough medical supplies.
Thus a donation is always welcomed adding it’s difficult to say exactly how much of a shortage there is looking at the various medical facilities across the country. The Ministry on Wednesday received medical equipment donation worth over N$ 3.7m from a non-profit organisation based in Germany. The donation was handed over by Hans-Wilhelm Schütte, the Managing Director of Ohorongo Cement. It included more than 60 hospital beds and mattresses, more than 30 bedside tables, an x-ray machine, an anesthesia machine and various other items.
“There will always be a need for more supplies and equipment,” she say emphasising the constant need for acquiring facilities, and thus also the need for donations.
Support Ulm e.V. was established by a group of medical doctors with the aim to support medical projects throughout the world. They support various projects by means of financial and humanitarian means as well as through donations.
As a result of a Technical Corporation Agreement between Support Ulm e.V., the Ohorongo Otavi Community Trust deliver medical equipment as prioritised by the ministry to complement the existing medical facilities and ensure excellent medical care in public health facilities.
“I am happy to confirm that, since the establishment of the partnership in 2009, we have spent over N$ 65.8 million supporting a whole number of social projects, and out of this, thanks to Support Ulm e.V., more than N$ 53.6 million was on medical supplies and equipment. This excludes this donation” said Schütte at the handover ceremony.
Muinjangue expressed the ministry’s gratitude to Support Ulm e.V. and Sana Kliniken for the generous donation, saying the ministry remains grateful for Support Ulm e.V. for their commitment in sourcing donations of medical equipment, as any support of medical equipment will undoubtedly enhance ministerial responsibility of providing affordable quality health care services.
This Private Public Partnership (PPP) in the public health sector serves to narrow the gap caused by resource constraints, as well as improve access to quality health services.
The donation, especially the beds, is aimed at providing further relief to the Namibian healthcare system, especially since Namibia is not yet out of the woods with the Covid-19 pandemic.
