Staff Reporter
The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has donated a boat to the Zambezi Regional Directorate of Health and Social Welfare Services to assist with the transportation of healthcare workers and patients along the Zambezi River.
“This donation marks an important milestone in our ongoing mission to provide integrated, affordable, and quality healthcare services that are responsive to the needs of the public. It addresses a specific challenge of maritime transport,” said Dr Kalumbi Shangula, the Minister of Health and Social Services.
The minister highlighted that the geography of the Zambezi Region presents particular challenges, especially during the rainy season when flooding frequently occurs, obstructing access to essential healthcare services. He also pointed out that such floods have become more common as a result of climate change.
IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE: Scenes from the official commissioning of a health service delivery boat in the Zambezi Region. Photos: Ministry of Health and Social Services. 
IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE: Scenes from the official commissioning of a health service delivery boat in the Zambezi Region. Photos: Ministry of Health and Social Services. 
IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE: Scenes from the official commissioning of a health service delivery boat in the Zambezi Region. Photos: Ministry of Health and Social Services. 
IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE: Scenes from the official commissioning of a health service delivery boat in the Zambezi Region. Photos: Ministry of Health and Social Services. 
IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE: Scenes from the official commissioning of a health service delivery boat in the Zambezi Region. Photos: Ministry of Health and Social Services. 
IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE: Scenes from the official commissioning of a health service delivery boat in the Zambezi Region. Photos: Ministry of Health and Social Services.
“This calls for targeted and appropriate solutions to ensure that the inhabitants of this region have access to services. Today, we are proud to present one such solution: a versatile health service delivery boat, specifically designed to operate in flood-prone areas and islands in this region,” said Shangula.
The minister stressed that the boat is a vital tool for ensuring timely medical intervention, which will be crucial in managing disease outbreaks and improving maternal and child health services.
“I extend profound thanks to PEPFAR for their invaluable support and dedication to strengthening Namibia’s healthcare system. Equally, I acknowledge the relentless efforts of our healthcare workers, community leaders, and all stakeholders who work tirelessly to deliver healthcare services, often under trying conditions. Your hard work is key to the achievement of our mission, and it does not go unnoticed. To the residents of the Zambezi Region, particularly those in the flood-prone areas and surrounding islands, this boat is an invaluable resource – a beacon of hope in our collective effort to overcome the challenges posed by nature,” Shangula added.
