Otjiwarongo: Community members of Otjiwarongo on Monday morning staged a peaceful demonstration demanding improved medical healthcare services at the town's State hospital, following the death of 21-year-old Elijah Areseb, allegedly at the hands of medical personnel. According to Namibia Press Agency, the community marched from the Build Together location in Orwetoveni to the Otjiwarongo State Hospital, where they handed over a petition to the Otjozondjupa Regional Health Director, Gebhardo Timoteus. It is alleged that on 05 February 2026, the nurses on duty in the casualty department failed to assist Areseb's mother, who had taken him to the hospital with breathing difficulties, on time. The deceased's mother, Emma Ludwina, on Monday said her son's death could have been prevented if medical personnel on duty that morning had attended to her son on time. The community members in their petition called for the suspension of the nurses who were duty at the time of the incident to allow for a fair internal inve stigation as the investigating team works with the accused nurses and doctors. They alleged that the nurses at the hospital were rude and negligent. "Our plea, therefore, is not only for an improved healthcare system at our hospital, but a total turnaround of the hospital's administration," they stated. They also called for a professional and efficient code of conduct of healthcare workers, supported by enough medical supplies at the hospital and called for the speedy construction of the proposed Otjozondjupa Referral Hospital on land adjacent to Orwetoveni cemetery, saying the new hospital would be a game changer since it is situated closer to the community. The group further called on President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to intervene, saying it is time for a quality healthcare system to be established, with trained and passionate medical personnel keen to save people's lives. The health director, upon receiving their petition, promised to forward it to the national level and also launch an investigation into Areseb's death.