The minister of health and social services, Kalumbi Shangula, last week told parliament that the groundbreaking ceremony for the much-anticipated Windhoek District Hospital will take place on 9 May.
Shangula revealed this while presenting his ministry’s budget motivation.
He said the hospital is envisaged to provide general outpatient and inpatient care in order to reduce the workload and referrals to Katutura Intermediate Hospital.
The minister said the hospital would serve as a Class B facility in the referral pathway, would receive patients from countrywide district hospitals and would be used as a training centre for interns in different health disciplines.
The minister said it would also reduce congestion, long waiting times and overcrowding in wards.
“I invite all honourable members to witness this milestone,” Shangula said.
THROWBACK
In March last year, Shangula confirmed the construction of a 300-bed Khomas hospital.
As of last year, Namibia had 1 150 outreach points, 309 healthcare facilities, 34 district hospitals and four intermediate and referral hospitals, according to the ministry’s website.
The country has five referral hospitals out of 34 district hospitals, including Windhoek Central Hospital, which is regarded as a national referral facility.
The intermediate hospitals are the Katutura, Oshakati, Onandjokwe and Rundu hospitals.
Over 200 facilities across the country offer private healthcare services.
In addition to five private hospitals in Windhoek, there are also private hospitals at Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, Otjiwarongo and Tsumeb, as well as Ongwediva.
‘BIGGER’
The ministry has been allocated a total budget of N$10,8 billion for the 2024/25 financial year, which constitutes roughly 11% of the total national budget.
Some N$10,4 billion has been allocated to the operational budget, while N$457 is earmarked for the developmental budget.
HUMAN RESOURCES
Shangula has revealed that during 2023, the ministry filled a total of 506 positions across various job categories.
Enrolled nurses comprised the highest number of positions at 308, followed by registered nurses at 221, pharmacists at 36 and dentists at seven.
“From January 2024, a total of 127 positions across different categories were filled. The highest number comprises enrolled nurses at 74. The majority of those recruited are trained at local private institutions,” he said.
According to Shangula, the ministry placed a total of 290 interns at a cost of N$93, 8 million in terms of remuneration in 2023.
In 2024, a total of 161 interns were placed at a total cost of N$42,7 million.
DISABILITY PREVENTION AND REHABILITATION
Shangula said a total of 620 wheelchairs, costing N$4,7 million, were procured and distributed to beneficiaries during the 2023/24 financial year.
He said more than 14 350 people were provided with prosthetics and orthotics services during the same period.
“There is a backlog of more than 1 400 wheelchairs countrywide. At least 100 000 people around the country require other assistive devices, such as artificial limbs (prostheses), glasses, hearing aids and white canes at one time or another,” the minister said.
The ministry receives an allocation of around N$25 million for these items per year.
“A cumbersome and most of the time protracted procurement process often hinders achieving 100% expenditure each year,” Shangula said.
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