Expectant mothers at the temporary maternity waiting area behind the Eenhana district hospital have appealed to the government to improve accommodation, saying the current shelter is too small to accommodate the growing number of women awaiting delivery.
The concerns were raised on Tuesday during a visit by deputy minister of health and social services Susan Ndjaleka as part of her familiarisation tour of health facilities in the Ohangwena region.
According to the health ministry, the mothers told Ndjaleka that the temporary facility is overcrowded and no longer meets the needs of expectant women who are required to stay there while waiting to give birth.
During the visit, doctor Angeline Ndeiluka, who is in charge of the maternity ward, told the deputy minister the expecting women are served by two doctors on an alternating basis.
“We only have one machine to help babies with breathing when they are born, which is also not functioning well,” she said.
Doctor Ndeiluka said the hospital needs at least four similar machines, adding that improved accommodation would provide a safer, more comfortable and dignified environment during the final stages of pregnancy.
Ndjaleka inspected the temporary maternity waiting area and engaged with the women about the conditions at the facility.
