SMS for Tuesday 16 JUNE 2009
* DOES anyone in authority ever read this SMS page? This is the voice of the people, but is of no use if the people they are meant for do not get the message! – They do and also respond to issues. See response from the Ministry of Health and Social Services below.
Food For Thought
* I WOULD like all political parties to have a national debate on the issues that affect our society such as unemployment, poverty, AIDS, etc. These are the real enemies to our development and progress in our country. What can we do to overcome all these challenges? That’s what our old comrades should preach every day.
– Mandla (Okhandja)
Going The Extra Mile
* ON Easter Sunday at around 16h00, underway to Grahamstown for my daughter’s graduation, I was stopped at the Ariamsvlei border post because I unwittingly still had my manual passport. One of the people on duty took it upon themselves to call a Home Affairs representative at Keetmanshoop, I only know her first name Fina, who sorted matters out and saw to it that I was back on the road with a travel document an hour and a half later. Thank you for going that extra mile and helping me to make it to my daughter’s graduation in time.
– Sandy Rudd
Politics In General
*A VICTORY for President Ahmadinejad is a victory the Arab and Muslim world as well as a victory for Africans. Those who oppose the Spy Bill must read the letter from Mulife Muchali, a Namibian staying in Canada, [in Friday’s The Namibian] then they will understand what I mean.
– Concerned Namibian
General
* CAN one of our historians please write an article to educate some of us as to why the Ovaherero pride themselves in wearing German-style military uniforms?
* VILLAGES and towns are sustained by small businesses. GRN please support us.
In And From the Regions
* I AM sitting at the casualty room at Onandjokwe Hospital. The place is horribly worn down, dirty and windowpanes are broken. How can the management and Government accept this utter neglect and unhygienic conditions?
* WE are paying a lot of money for this school but yet our children are complaining of not getting enough food at Lano Private School in Oshikoto Region.
* DEAR Minister! Please do something about Helao Nafidi. Foreigners are building and still buying plots. We are tired living on rent. Please do something.
* WE are wondering whether the library which is next to Caltex in Otjiwarongo belongs to the Government of Namibia or is it owned by just an ordinary person? And if it belongs to the Ministry, then we want to find out and know from the Regional Director why is the place is neglected and not cleaned. It is full of grass and shrubs. The Minister of Education please we beg you to come in person and see what the place looks like.
Service Please
* I’D like to know why Virgin Active calls you 10 times when they want you to join the gym. I join, stipulate money should only be deducted on the last working day of the month. Over-zealous consultant – the bank deducts money earlier than they should resulting in Cape Town branch calling, DEMANDING to know why I’m in arrears. You explain about the over-zealous consultant, get the impression no one cares, speak to Windhoek Virgin Active and try and get them to return my call. I now have charges at the bank AND cannot get anyone to call me back for the past week!
* CAN someone please advise the staff of Tré Supermarket to be friendlier with customers.
* I WANT to know why MTC takes from your credit if a competition has expired?
* FNB service at Ausspannplatz is very poor every time when you go between 13h00 and 14h00 there are just one or two consultants. Managers of FNB do something.
* NAMIBIAN Garden and Cement, please up your customer service.
* PUPKEWITZ Shell at Ondangwa is an absolute disgrace. There is no toilet facility and customers are forced to relieve themselves at the back of the store while selling food in the front. Where are the health inspectors at Ondangwa when you need one? Please do your jobs
Election Fever
* I WOULD like to address my problem to the Director of Elections. Why is he excluding teachers from applying as registration/polling officials? Are teachers not civil servants? Are they not going to vote like any other GRN officials? Please we need feedback on this.
Labour Issues
* DEAR Secretary General Evilastus Kaaronda of NUNW, an investigation was concluded recently at the NQA and the recommendations are due to be implemented. We appeal to you to seek even if it’s only observer status during this process to ensure that worker interest is taken into account and that it is done without delay. This is important as the findings involve changes in management/leadership at the NQA. The investigation was conducted by a consultancy called Top That. We thank you in advance for your intervention as we are being informed that professionals don’t need a union (which is a myth).
Sporting
* CAN somebody please explain? How is it so easy and possible for NBC to obtain broadcasting rights from somewhere else but so difficult to get from our own NFA? Now they will broadcast Confederation Cup. When are we going to enjoy our Brave Warriors’ matches live on NBC TV?
* I WOULD like to know from the NFA women’ desk why they still include WCE in their log standing while the team withdrew ages ago. Please give an explanation!
* CAN anyone please help me. My son is interested in playing soccer. Is there somewhere in Windhoek with any youth development teams or clubs?
Education
* MINISTER of Education. At one primary school in Okahandja, teachers are intimidated, victimised, and scolded if you differ with the principal, or with some members of management.
– The Ministry has channels to follow up such complaints. – Newsdesk
ACC Alert
* IS it permissible to employ a person without a driver’s licence and use a municipal vehicle to get a licence? This is happing at Outjo! ACC do something! Certain people buy municipal employees’ houses at undisclosed prices and renovate them without any tenders.
– Concerned youth
* ACC can you please help us here at Oshikango town. We try our best with unions but they just come for “kazoza” [cooldrink/bribes] and go back without solving our problems. It looks like we are not in our country. We treated like slaves by Chinese companies, Arabian companies and others except our Namibian business people. Please ACC find out what is the matter with the workers union? And stop the “kazoza” you always get and forget your work. Please help us. We are doing heavy work without any control.
– Angry Oshikango resident LH
Lost And Found
* THE following IDs have been recovered. 81022510142 for Miss Uinuses Julanti Aloisia and for Mr Swartbooi Hans Gerson 71011900157, as well as his driver’s licence. Please contact me at 081-431-2714 for collection. Ask for Mr Kelvin Abel, Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
* I’VE lost my brown small handbag. Inside there’s a wallet with ID, bank cards written Ndamonongenda Hamutenya. Anyone finding these please call me on 081-208-5134 any time.
* THE driving licence of a M Prinzonsky No.50200000068Y has been found. Contact Captain, 081-296-7951 Swakopmund
Health Matters
* HEALTH matters Re: ARVs at Oshakati Hospital. Concerned Namibian should know that PLWHA are everywhere especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. That being the fact Namibians on ART in other countries also receive treatment wherever they are, in many cases free! Let’s worry about halting the spread of the disease, not trivial matters!
* MINISTRY of Health, DSP! I thought when you were planning for the national HIV testing campaign you also included staff allowances. Why has it taken so long to pay the staff now? That money is far less than if we had to claim overtime. We volunteered, remember? We want the money you promised now.
Response To SMS Published In The Namibian
* I am a nurse at Katutura Hospital. Since last week we haven’t had oxygen. The nurses are always blamed Please, Minister of Health do something. Not even the theatre has oxygen (1 June 2009).
– The Ministry of Health and Social Services would like to inform the author and the general public that the Ministry is concerned about patient care and will do everything in its power to improve the situation. The hospital is in control of the situation and measures are taken to prevent any loss of life.
In the same vain the Ministry of Health and Social Services would like to call upon the public to remain calm as we have the health of the Namibian nation at heart and will do our level best to keep the nation healthy.
It is true that the hospital was without oxygen for a short period of time. However, the hospital gets it oxygen in two forms, bulk from Intaka Tech Machine stationed at the hospital premises and cylindered from Afrox. There was a problem with oxygen supply due to malfunctioning of Intaka Tech Machine, which supplies bulk oxygen to the hospital. Nevertheless, the hospital has been in constant communication with Intaka Tech Machine throughout the whole process. The hospital has continuously sourced oxygen in cylinders from Afrox to attend to critical cases in the hospital. All emergency operations are performed at the Windhoek Central Hospital.
The problem was resolved on June 3 and bulk oxygen has been restored to the hospital.
– Gladys Kamboo, Public Relations Officer: MoHSS