Govt feels cut over hospital fallout, calls crisis meeting

THE deteriorating condition of State hospitals in Windhoek was discussed at an emergency meeting in the capital yesterday.

It was comprised of high-level representatives from the Health and Works, Transport and Communication Ministries. It came only hours after yet another operation had to be cancelled at the Central State Hospital because of a power failure.According to information revealed to The Namibian by well-placed sources, a doctor and his surgical staff downed tools just moments prior to surgery, walking out of the theatre and aborting the scheduled operation.On Monday morning, orthopaedic surgeon Dr Alex Skinner and his team struggled to complete an operation when a power failure occurred at the same hospital while they were in theatre.They had already started on knee-transplant surgery and were forced to complete the operation in the dark, using only a flashlight.When Skinner commented on the situation on Wednesday night, he said that the lack of electricity in the building had forced him to complete the operation without any monitoring equipment to check on the patient’s vital signs.As a result, Skinner on Wednesday refused to see patients at the Central State Hospital, saying that he was no longer going to work under such circumstances.”One doctor said this morning that all that’s left is for this place to fall apart,” a patient said yesterday.The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, confirmed yesterday’s power failure when contacted for comment.He added however that a meeting had been held between himself, technical staff at his ministry and representatives from the Ministry of Works to see how a solution could be found to the hospital’s woes.”The problem with the power is that our systems were built some years ago.As time has passed, we’ve been trying to improve the hospital by bringing in new equipment.But now we have a situation where all this equipment has put a bigger strain on the hospital’s capacity,” he said.”The demand for power has outgrown the system’s ability to supply.”During yesterday’s meeting, Shangula said, both short and long-term solutions were explored.”In the short term, we’ve decided to make sure all the non-essentials are switched off to provide more power to essential functions.But then we’re also looking to get a dedicated power supply just for the theatre,” he said.On doctors’ complaints about equipment not functioning properly, Shangula said that this issue has also been looked at, but had been delayed because of the necessary tender process for buying equipment.Among equipment said to be out of order is a theatre bed at the Katutura State hospital, as well as specialised surgical equipment – vital for certain operations – at the Central State hospital.”I would like to appeal to the public and to all staff at these hospitals to remain calm.The situation is being studied and their issues are being taken care of,” Shangula said.Complaints about the situation at State hospitals are not new.Over the years, patients and members of the public have repeatedly pointed to the tardy state of State health facilities, including aspects related to hygiene and service.It came only hours after yet another operation had to be cancelled at the Central State Hospital because of a power failure.According to information revealed to The Namibian by well-placed sources, a doctor and his surgical staff downed tools just moments prior to surgery, walking out of the theatre and aborting the scheduled operation.On Monday morning, orthopaedic surgeon Dr Alex Skinner and his team struggled to complete an operation when a power failure occurred at the same hospital while they were in theatre.They had already started on knee-transplant surgery and were forced to complete the operation in the dark, using only a flashlight.When Skinner commented on the situation on Wednesday night, he said that the lack of electricity in the building had forced him to complete the operation without any monitoring equipment to check on the patient’s vital signs.As a result, Skinner on Wednesday refused to see patients at the Central State Hospital, saying that he was no longer going to work under such circumstances. “One doctor said this morning that all that’s left is for this place to fall apart,” a patient said yesterday.The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, confirmed yesterday’s power failure when contacted for comment.He added however that a meeting had been held between himself, technical staff at his ministry and representatives from the Ministry of Works to see how a solution could be found to the hospital’s woes.”The problem with the power is that our systems were built some years ago.As time has passed, we’ve been trying to improve the hospital by bringing in new equipment.But now we have a situation where all this equipment has put a bigger strain on the hospital’s capacity,” he said.”The demand for power has outgrown the system’s ability to supply.”During yesterday’s meeting, Shangula said, both short and long-term solutions were explored.”In the short term, we’ve decided to make sure all the non-essentials are switched off to provide more power to essential functions.But then we’re also looking to get a dedicated power supply just for the theatre,” he said.On doctors’ complaints about equipment not functioning properly, Shangula said that this issue has also been looked at, but had been delayed because of the necessary tender process for buying equipment.Among equipment said to be out of order is a theatre bed at the Katutura State hospital, as well as specialised surgical equipment – vital for certain operations – at the Central State hospital.”I would like to appeal to the public and to all staff at these hospitals to remain calm.The situation is being studied and their issues are being taken care of,” Shangula said.Complaints about the situation at State hospitals are not new.Over the years, patients and members of the public have repeatedly pointed to the tardy state of State health facilities, including aspects related to hygiene and service.