Staff Reporter
THE Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Esperance Luvindao, has confirmed that the Ministry plans to upgrade Eenhana District Hospital, but urged staff to play their part in maintaining facilities and upholding hygiene standards.
Luvindao made these remarks during a recent unannounced visit to Eenhana District Hospital, where she engaged directly with healthcare workers and patients, and assessed the facility’s operational conditions. During the visit, the Minister identified several challenges, including non-functional toilets and poor hygiene across the premises.
“During the Minister’s visit, she noticed that multiple bandages were being used to tie the doors of non-functional toilets, wasting government resources and creating the wrong impression of government healthcare,” the Ministry of Health explained.
The Ministry further disclosed that plates of leftover food were found scattered around the hospital grounds, creating conditions that attract animals, particularly stray cats.
“She highlighted that the cats are simply responding to what they need—food and shelter—and questioned why hospitals are creating such conditions in the first place. Concerns regarding stray cats on the hospital premises have been raised on numerous occasions,” the Ministry added.
The Ministry revealed that hospital staff are working to ensure that the animals are sterilised and relocated to a suitable shelter, in collaboration with local animal welfare partners.
“However, the Minister flagged the solution, stating that it does not address the root cause of the issue. She emphasised that hospital management are required to step up on basic matters that do not require additional funding to resolve, and reiterated that a delegation would return to the hospital after a few weeks to ensure that corrective measures have been implemented,” the Ministry stated.
While acknowledging the hygiene and maintenance issues, Luvindao also recognised broader challenges such as limited space and ageing infrastructure at the hospital. She assured that the Ministry is actively working to address these issues not only at Eenhana District Hospital but across the country.
