Clinic opened at Tsumkwe

A MUCH-NEEDED clinic was opened at Tsumkwe last week by the Minister of Health and Social Services, Richard Kamwi, the donor Harald Grams and German actress and humanitarian Suzanne von Borsody.

The Hand in Hand for Children organisation was founded 10 years ago in Germany to help children with cancer. In 2003 they spread their wings to Namibia and have already built a kindergarten in Katutura, a soup kitchen at the Okahandja Park informal settlement and the clinic in Tsumkwe.Construction of the clinic started in November last year and it has been in operation since July this year.The Minister said during the opening that the community should take ownership of the clinic, look after it and guard against vandalism.People should also pay the charges for the services and medicine they receive at the clinic, as these payments would contribute to the sustainability of the clinic.Kamwi said his Ministry had made sure that TB medication was available at all clinics in the country, but it was the responsibility of patients to make sure that they complete the course.He pointed out that many people in the area had developed drug-resistant tuberculosis because they did not complete the treatment.Kamwi also urged people to co-operate with mosquito-spraying teams in an effort to curb malaria.He said alcoholism was another serious problem in the Tsumkwe area and the community should discourage alcohol abuse.The Minister praised the Ombanye fishing company for its donations to the Tsumkwe community.Hand in Hand for Children did not only build the clinic, but also donated an ambulance and 22 bicycles to the community.The bicycles were distributed to the villages around Tsumkwe and will be used to ride to the clinic to fetch help if needed.To celebrate the opening of the clinic, Hand in Hand for Children also sponsored a cooked meal for about 300 community members.In 2003 they spread their wings to Namibia and have already built a kindergarten in Katutura, a soup kitchen at the Okahandja Park informal settlement and the clinic in Tsumkwe.Construction of the clinic started in November last year and it has been in operation since July this year.The Minister said during the opening that the community should take ownership of the clinic, look after it and guard against vandalism.People should also pay the charges for the services and medicine they receive at the clinic, as these payments would contribute to the sustainability of the clinic.Kamwi said his Ministry had made sure that TB medication was available at all clinics in the country, but it was the responsibility of patients to make sure that they complete the course.He pointed out that many people in the area had developed drug-resistant tuberculosis because they did not complete the treatment.Kamwi also urged people to co-operate with mosquito-spraying teams in an effort to curb malaria.He said alcoholism was another serious problem in the Tsumkwe area and the community should discourage alcohol abuse.The Minister praised the Ombanye fishing company for its donations to the Tsumkwe community.Hand in Hand for Children did not only build the clinic, but also donated an ambulance and 22 bicycles to the community.The bicycles were distributed to the villages around Tsumkwe and will be used to ride to the clinic to fetch help if needed.To celebrate the opening of the clinic, Hand in Hand for Children also sponsored a cooked meal for about 300 community members.