Govt increases funding for church hospitals

A PARTNERSHIP agreement between the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the Anglican Diocese of Namibia, the Roman Catholic Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) was sighed in Windhoek yesterday.

During a visit to the Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital last month, Health Minister Richard Kamwi discussed the 1998 Partnership Agreement between the churches and the Ministry. During the discussions it emerged that church members from Europe and elsewhere in the world had stopped their financial assistance to the church and it was struggling to maintain hospital.Following consultations with the President Hifikepunye Pohamba, a new partnership agreement between Government and the churches was decided upon and signed by all parties involved.It was decided that the Ministry would pay 95 per cent of the cost of building new health facilities run by the churches.Any upgrading or capital development of health facilities by the churches will be done in conformity with the Ministry’s standards and guidelines.The Ministry and churches will meet regularly to co-ordinate, negotiate and agree on all operational and organisational aspects of the agreement.During the discussions it emerged that church members from Europe and elsewhere in the world had stopped their financial assistance to the church and it was struggling to maintain hospital.Following consultations with the President Hifikepunye Pohamba, a new partnership agreement between Government and the churches was decided upon and signed by all parties involved.It was decided that the Ministry would pay 95 per cent of the cost of building new health facilities run by the churches.Any upgrading or capital development of health facilities by the churches will be done in conformity with the Ministry’s standards and guidelines.The Ministry and churches will meet regularly to co-ordinate, negotiate and agree on all operational and organisational aspects of the agreement.