Maria David
NAMIBIA’S mobile telecommunications utility, MTC, has donated ophthalmological equipment to the Central Hospital in Windhoek.
The equipment, valued at N$750 000, was donated to boost the hospital’s ability to treat visually impaired patients.
In a statement issued recently, MTC’s marketing officer Tim Ekandjo said that the MTC is partnering with the ministry of health, particularly its eye clinic that is doing a “sterling job of restoring the vision of our people.”
Ekandjo noted that going forward, they will look at ways of providing needed technology to help the work of the health facility.
On his part, health Executive Director, Dr. Ben Nangombe thanked the MTC for the donation, stating that the equipment will be of great value towards achieving the centre’s goal, which is human sight restoration.
He indicated that the centre handles a high number of patients who suffer some form of visual impairment, and the equipment from the MTC will go a long way in helping the centre to manage eye conditions experienced by the people.
Nangombe expressed gratitude for the MTC’s act of goodwill act.
Currently, the centre handles approximately eighty patients, with at least twenty getting booked for eye surgery daily.
The operating theatre is always overwhelmed and fully booked with patients coming from as far as Angola seeking help.
The centre is fully booked for the remainder of the year, with the waiting list being full as well.
He said that there is an increase in vision problems affecting the younger population, from age 30 upwards.
He attributed it to medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and unhealthy lifestyles.
Commonly diagnosed eye conditions include cataracts and refractive errors.
The Eye Clinic will continue to decentralise its services.
Regional outreach teams hold eye camps in Zambezi, Kavango East, Ohangwena, //Kharas, Omusati and Oshana regions.
