N$59-million Onandjokwe maternity ward incomplete six years on

… theatre revamped at N$1,8 million

The long-awaited maternity ward at Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital in the Oshikoto region is still under construction.

The N$59-million project aiming to build a 90-bed maternity ward started in 2018.

This was revealed by Oshikoto governor Penda ya Ndakolo during his state of the region address at Omuthiya on Friday. 

Ya Ndakolo said upon completion, the project will enhance service delivery and possibly reduce maternal deaths.

“At a cost of N$1,8 million, renovations of the theatre’s interior have been completed, which will enhance service delivery and minimise referrals to Oshakati and Windhoek,” he said. 

Ya Ndakolo said the construction of a water reservoir at Omuthiya Intermediate Hospital has been completed. 

“The aim is to ease water supply disruption to the hospital when the main NamWater supply is disconnected,” he said. 

The governor said renovations at Omuntele Clinic have been completed. 

“The construction of Omeyantalala health post, a 10 000 litre water tank and fencing off the area in the Okankolo constituency, which is funded by the Global Fund to improve community-based healthcare services, has also been completed,” Ya Ndakolo said.

He said the Ministry of Health and  Social Services will continue to construct septic tanks at the Onkumbula, Onyuulaye and Onakazizi clinics to improve sanitation and hygiene.

Oshikoto health director Josua Nghipangelwa said expecting mothers are currently using the old ward while waiting for the new ward to be completed. 

“The birth delivery rate at Onandjokwe is at peak because the hospital serves three regions, which are partly the Oshana, Oshikoto and Ohangwena regions, which sometimes result in the lack of space, but mothers are using other facilities while waiting to deliver,” he said. 

‘JUST A DELAY’

Executive director of health and social services Ben Nangombe says the project is 70% complete.

“There was just a delay involving the initial contractor. We had to terminate that contractor and bring a new one on board to complete the project. 

“We started the process of consultations earlier this year and the contractor is yet to come on site,” he says.

He says all is set and the work will commence soon. 

“We want this project to be completed as soon as possible,” he says. 

THROWBACK

The Namibian reported last August that expecting mothers at the hospital have been accommodated in a tent since 2018, because the maternity ward has not been completed.

This was discovered after a parliamentary standing committee on gender equality, social development and family affairs visited the hospital at the time.