OSHAKATI — In a significant boost to healthcare services in the region, a new 12-bed dialysis unit was inaugurated at Oshakati Intermediate Hospital on Friday, marking a pivotal step in the government’s efforts to enhance renal care accessibility in public hospitals across Namibia.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, highlighted the critical gap in dialysis services within the public health sector, which prompted the government to prioritize the establishment of this facility. For years, state patients in need of renal dialysis had to endure long travels or rely on costly referrals to private health facilities, with the government spending over N$100 million annually on such services.
Since its completion in July, the new dialysis unit has already provided treatment to 67 patients, conducting over 311 dialysis sessions. “This indicates the necessity and immediate impact of the new unit,” Shangula noted. The unit started treating patients, including 35 new ones, showcasing the urgent demand for such services in the region.
The journey to this moment began in 2016 when the ministry initially sought bids for establishing dialysis units at several hospitals, including Windhoek Central, Oshakati, and Rundu. However, the project faced delays and was eventually rebooted in 2019, only to be stalled again by the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, in October 2021, as the pandemic subsided, efforts to establish the units resumed.
Shangula also revealed that prior to this project, dialysis services were limited to patients in intensive care units at several hospitals, including five haemodialysis machines at Oshakati Intermediate Hospital, two at Rundu Intermediate Hospital, and seven at Windhoek Central Hospital.
“The government remains committed to improving the healthcare landscape in Namibia, ensuring that essential services are brought closer to those in need and enhancing their collective efforts toward achieving Universal Health Coverage,” Shangula asserted, underscoring the state’s dedication to health equity.