Eenhana overburdened

HEALTH workers from other regions – such as Oshikoto and Omusati – have been sent to the Eenhana Hospital to assist staff in Ohangwena which is severely affected by malaria.

The Matron at Eenhana, Helena Munenguni, told The Namibian that mosquitoes were breeding ferociously because of good rains. As a result, the Eenhana District Hospital had twice the number of patients it could handle and was overcrowded.”At the moment we have 242 malaria inpatients and more are at the outpatient department waiting to be seen by the doctors.We have only 120 beds.”So far they had treated more than 1 000 patients.She said that they would have to apply for tents to accommodate some of the patients, many of whom were now lying on the floors, with or without mattresses, in the corridors alongside the wards, she said.Munenguni told The Namibian that there was also a shortage of health workers and doctors at Eenhana Hospital.She said that they were not only treating malaria patients at the hospital, but had gone out to the villages to treat people.”People are very sick in the villages, with many not having transport to come to the hospital or to the nearby clinics.And people are dying in the villages because of malaria.”As a result, the Eenhana District Hospital had twice the number of patients it could handle and was overcrowded.”At the moment we have 242 malaria inpatients and more are at the outpatient department waiting to be seen by the doctors.We have only 120 beds.”So far they had treated more than 1 000 patients.She said that they would have to apply for tents to accommodate some of the patients, many of whom were now lying on the floors, with or without mattresses, in the corridors alongside the wards, she said.Munenguni told The Namibian that there was also a shortage of health workers and doctors at Eenhana Hospital.She said that they were not only treating malaria patients at the hospital, but had gone out to the villages to treat people.”People are very sick in the villages, with many not having transport to come to the hospital or to the nearby clinics.And people are dying in the villages because of malaria.”