Staff Reporter
NAMIBIA established its very first cardiology unit in 2007 in cooperation with South Africa, and although it only offered treatment to children, the unit has recently gained the capacity to treat adults for cardiovascular diseases as well.
The unit is, however, faced with shortages from time to time as doctors work hard to save lives with limited resources.
To better equip this important field, local stockbroking firm Simonis Storm in conjunction with Investec Asset Management donated N$320 000 to the Central Hospital’s adult cardiology department.
Speaking at the occasion, adult cardiologist Dr Tangeni Auala stated cardiovascular diseases have become an increasing cause of death in most patients and added that adult patients had to go to South Africa for treatment, but that the hospital has started providing services for them in recent months.
She noted that over the past two years, a lot of funds that went to specialized services were re-directed to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and that the funds will go a long way.
Andrew Jansen from Simonis Storm handed over the cheque to the executive director of health alongside some of the specialist doctors in the unit.
He noted that the donation came by way of request from Dr Salomo Amadhila, who asked that he visit the Central Hospital and see the work carried out by the specialist unit.
“It is remarkable that we see humans doing things that benefit the greater society. We wanted to give something that could make a difference. The heart and the brain are vital organs and without them one’s likelihood to survive is small. We want any of our family members to go to any hospital to receive these services,” Jansen said.
Also commenting on the donation, Ben Nangombe, the executive director of health, stated that the donation will go towards buying consumables needed in treating cardiovascular conditions.
“This is what public-private partnerships should look like. This will go towards saving lives of people who might not have stood a chance before,” Nangombe said.
He said Namibia being able to render adult cardio services is a result of the training and education of local doctors.
Nangombe stated that in 2014 a presidential commission inquiry into the health sector highlighted the importance of the unit.
“This makes us one of the few African countries that have operationalized cardiology services for adults. Besides Namibia, this is only offered in South Africa, Egypt, and Tanzania. Namibia has a good story to tell despite the challenges it faces.
“Open heart surgery is being performed here, at a public hospital. In the past, patients would be sent to South Africa or Germany. These operations would be costly with patients forking out flight costs as well as pay for medical services,” Nangombe said.
