Erasmus Shalihaxwe
The construction of the maternity ward at the Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital is nearing completion.
The ward will open its doors on 20 October 2025.
The 120-bed facility, the first of its kind in the country, includes dedicated first and second stage rooms, doctors’ on-call rooms, a nurses’ lounge, reception areas, private rooms, gynaecology outpatient rooms, procedure rooms, and a specialised obstetrics and gynaecology theatre.
Construction started in 2016 at a cost of N$60 million to address the shortage of maternity wards in the country, especially in the northern regions.
The project faced delays after the initial contractor failed to deliver on time.
A second contractor took over and has accelerated progress, committing to the October handover date.
Health minister Esperance Luvindao toured the facility to assess progress.
She said the theatre will reduce congestion in the hospital’s main theatre and ensure that women receive timely care.
“These patients ought to be our focus every day. They are VIP patients every day. Our focus is on them. If any facility is to be used by state patients, it should be good enough for senior government officials,” she said.
During her visit to Eenhana Hospital, Luvindao expressed disappointment with its condition and said the Onandjokwe facility will serve as a benchmark for raising standards at other hospitals.
According to the ministry, the new maternity wing is part of its Vision April 2026, which aims to improve the quality of care for state patients nationwide.
Previous reports indicate that Onandjokwe Hospital delivers about 700 babies each month, averaging 7 668 deliveries annually.
