Windhoek: Health and Social Services Minister, Dr Esperance Luvindao, reaffirmed the government's commitment to Universal Health Coverage (UHC), highlighting the strategic deployment of mobile clinics to address healthcare gaps in remote areas.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Luvindao, in the National Assembly on Thursday, while responding to Borniface Susiku from the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), addressed concerns about the effectiveness and operational status of mobile health clinics in Namibia. She stated that these clinics are strategically established to meet the unique healthcare needs of remote and underserved areas, which often lack the population density or infrastructure for permanent health facilities.

Susiku previously noted challenges such as limited services being offered at some health facilities, while some focus mainly on family planning and irregular operating hours at locations like Kwena, Nakabolelwa, and Maknaga in the Zambezi region.

'Mobile clinics serve as a crucial bridge, bringing essential healthcare services to communities that would otherwise have limited or no access. While it is true that mobile clinics are not automatically transitioned into fully-fledged clinics, this is by design,'' she explained.

Luvindao emphasised that the government strategically evaluates the long-term needs of each community, considering factors like population growth, disease prevalence, and changing healthcare requirements.

She continued: ''The mobile clinics the honourable member referred to are, therefore, the basic structures constructed at the outreaches. Kwena, Nakabolelwa, and Makanga are therefore part of the 65 basic PHC structures constructed at the outreach sites country-wide to enhance service provision at the community level.''

The minister confirmed that the government is implementing the "Community Health Post" (CHP) concept, a "Class E" service managed by trained community health workers. These posts prioritise disease prevention, health education, and basic treatment, serving as a sustainable model for essential care at the grassroots level, rather than automatically converting to clinics.

She further noted that 12 structures have been established as fully operational CHPs, with the ministry working to equip the remaining ones.

The minister noted that there is no fixed timeline for upgrading mobile points to permanent clinics; decisions will be made based on factors like population density, accessibility, and available resources.