KARASBURG: Councillor of the Karasburg Constituency, Paulus Ephraim, is appealing to the office of Premier Nahas Angula to reform the drought relief programme to benefit people in towns as well.
The request was prompted by the situation in his district, where many senior people and children are facing food shortages.
Speaking at his office during the distribution of food donations to 163 elderly people on Thursday, the councillor said the drought food programme focuses only on people in rural areas, but should also include poor people in towns.
Some people living in towns also do not have food, as they are unemployed and have no sources of income.
Those who receive pension grants finish it quickly on food, because there are many mouths to feed, such as grandchildren, in their households.
In a bid to help some residents, Ephraim, using his own money, bought food for about 20 elderly people and children in June this year, and invited them to have lunch at his office.
Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development Minister Jerry Ekandjo has called on the leadership of the Oshikuku Constituency to solicit funds through fundraising activities to establish a clinic at the constituency.
Ekandjo made the call whilst addressing the community of the Oshikuku Constituency at the Olupumbu village during a belated commemoration of Heroes’ Day yesterday.
The minister was responding to the inhabitants of Olupumbu, who demanded that the government establish a clinic at their community centre to rescue them from having to travel long distances for health services elsewhere in the constituency and beyond.
The Olupumbu community also want a Police sub-station to curb crime, and a feeder gravel road to address the difficulties they face in times of flooding.
Ekandjo then pledged N.dollars 1 000 for the establishment of a clinic, and N.dollars 500 for the construction of a police sub-station.
According to Ekandjo, other communities in the country had put up their own clinic buildings or established sub-police stations on their own, and the government provided them with materials and human resources.