The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) Oshikoto regional director Joshua Nghipangelwa, has welcomed the opening of a clinic in Olukupa village despite for now operating on an outreach basis.

Nghipangelwa in an interview with Nampa on Tuesday said this will be the second clinic in Nehale LyaMpingana Constituency in Oshikoto Region after the Hedimbi Clinic.

Nghipangelwa said the clinic would still operate on an outreach basis due to water scarcity and limited sewerage operations that cannot accommodate the staff.

‘We use water from the community borehole because there is no rural water supply,’ said Nghipangelwa.

He said they are waiting to connect water pipes from the community borehole and put up water tanks, as well as construct a bigger sewerage system so the clinic can operate on a daily basis.

Nghipangelwa applauded the ministry, especially the office of the executive director Ben Nangombe and his team for their unwavering support in building the clinic.

‘I really want to thank them
for also providing the nursing staff to the Olukupa Clinic,’ said Nghipangelwa, noting that the community from Olukupa and the nearby villages showed their appreciation when they received the health facility as they used to walk or travel 50 kilometres to the nearest Onkumbula Clinic.

‘The clinic started operating on the outreach basis twice a month from 2018 under a tree and in 2019 they received a facility that was donated by Gecko and the Ministry of Mines and Energy,’ said Nghipangelwa.

He stated that the Olukupa Clinic will be allocated three enrolled nurses and one registered nurse, who are currently under orientation at Omuthiya State Clinic.

‘This clinic will cater for 3 500 people from all 14 villages and when we do outreach we receive around 70 and above patients a day,’ the regional health director said.

Source: Namibia Press Agency