Cockroaches rule at Khorixas hospital

By: CLEMANS MIYANICWE

THE district hospital at the northwestern town of Khorixas is a shambles, with broken toilets that need to be flushed with buckets of water.

Toilets in the men’s ward and some at the doctors’ waiting rooms are not functioning and there is an awful smell.
Some of the employees and community members The Namibian spoke to, called on  Health Minister Richard Kamwi to intervene, as the current state of affairs can endanger patients’ health.
“This is supposed to be a place of cleanliness but the toilets are not flushing,” said a former patient at the hospital.
To make matters worse, cockroaches can be seen running around the hospital despite the cleaners’ best efforts to keep it tidy.
Months ago the washing machines of the hospital broke down and dirty linen was sent to the Opuwo State Hospital, more than 200 kilometres away.
Because of a broken X-ray machine, patients were also sent to Outjo or Otjiwarongo. The X-ray machine has since been repaired.
According to a senior health official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the lack  of water at the men’s ward has been reported to the Ministry of Works and although a repair team visited the hospital, the problems continue.
Renovations were done at the Khorixas District Hospital a few years ago. Some health officials blamed the Chinese company that did the job for the toilets that don’t flush.
An official from Ministry of Works told The Namibian that some of the ageing underground water pipes might have burst.
The hospital’s principal medical officer referred The Namibian to the director of health in the Kunene Region, Thomas Shapumba.
“We are aware of the problems at Khorixas Hospital and the Ministry of Works is busy with an investigation,” Shapumba said.
He said they would only know the extent of the problem after the investigation and could only take action then.

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