The trust was established to strengthen the hands of the management of State hospitals.

The first project is the Katutura State Hospital, which treats about 20 000 patients annually.

Namibia has a population of 2,1 million people, of whom only 258 000 are members of medical aid funds.

Thus about 1,8 million people are dependent on public health facilities countrywide.

It is the lower-income groups and the unemployed who make use of these facilities, where hardly any fees are charged.

Currently, about half of State patients pay N$30, irrespective of how long their stay in hospital is.

The other 50 per cent cannot afford to pay any fees, and none are charged.

There is a dire need to improve the conditions in State hospitals, and it is in this area that Pukumani is pitching in.

It aims to help Government address the cleanliness and hygiene in hospitals and to find solutions to other non-medical challenges that have been brought to their attention.

Last year the Pukumani Trust painted and upgraded wards 5A & B of the Katutura State Hospital.

They painted five wards and the bathrooms on the sixth floor, five wards on the seventh floor, three on the eighth floor and the children's ICU and playroom.

They also repaired and painted 72 bedside tables, and mended or replaced the wheels on the beds and cots.

In addition 2 000 metres of material was sewn into curtains and hanged in the rooms.

The Pukumani trust has also donated blankets, pillows, bedding, furniture, second-hand clothing, toys and cleaning equipment to the hospital and patients.

They handed out 702 hygiene packs, including toothpaste, toothbrush, face cloth and soap, to the patients last year.

About 560 Bibles were also donated to staff and patients.

The members of the Pukumani Trust meet on the first Saturday of each month at the Katutura Hospital and volunteers and donations are very welcome, as there is still much work to be done.

* People interested in donating material can contact Margaret Bennett at 081 124 8937.

Volunteers wanting to give some of their time can come to the Katutura Hospital on Saturday and lend a hand.

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