Maria David
KUNENE Governor Vipuakuje Muharukua said they continue to face challenges such as the unwillingness of health professionals to work in remote areas, which are hugely exacerbated by the scanty road networks.
Muharukua made the remarks recently during his State of the Region Address (SORA).
A major hurdle, he said, is the unwillingness of health professionals to work in remote areas, a problem significantly worsened by the region’s underdeveloped road networks.
Informanté is reliably informed that the region is facing a severe staffing shortage in all departments, leaving workers overworked and seemingly ignored by regional management.
Meanwhile, numerous positions remain vacant, with some, like Medical Officer roles, left unfilled despite interviews being conducted as far back as November of last year.
“This critical shortage is directly impacting patients and clients, who face prolonged waits as a single doctor or social worker struggles to attend to everyone,” said the source.
In some cases, an entire district hospital operates with just one doctor, a situation that places an immense burden on both staff and the community.
According to Muharukua, there is an urgent need to improve and speed up the filling of available posts in accordance with the recruitment plan, warning that failure to do so could compromise quality service delivery.
“We need to ensure greater efficiency in the procurement of vital equipment, clinical supplies, laboratory reagents, and cartridges,” he said.
During visits to the Opuwo District Hospital, Muharukua said he observed several alarming practices. These included a combined waiting area for different patient groups—those awaiting doctor consultations, emergency room outpatients, and those waiting for pharmaceuticals.
He said that even more concerning were serious breaches of patient confidentiality and privacy, with up to two doctors consulting two separate patients simultaneously in the same room.
In response, Muharukua confidently reported that the hospital is actively planning to remedy the situation. In line with the human development pillar, residents of Opuwo should expect changes at the district hospital this week.
Furthermore, the region looks forward to the construction of additional staff accommodation and the installation of a solar power system at the Terrace Bay clinic.
The Governor also said that during the current financial year, they hope to see an upgrade of the internet to 3G at all health facilities.
He said the Regional Administration block is slated for expansion at an estimated cost of N$14 million.
Muharukua also expressed optimism that the Opuwo Hospital will receive a new ICU room, budgeted at N$10 million. Plans also include upgrading incinerators at the three district hospitals for a total of N$7 million and installing water softeners at all three facilities.
He stressed that he has instructed the enlisting of architects and engineers to conduct a feasibility study for the expansion of Opuwo Hospital OPD/Casualty, as well as the extension of the hospital maternity ward, based on Oshakati Hospital’s maternity ward model.
