HEALTH minister Bernard Haufiku on Tuesday inaugurated the Eloolo Primary HealthCare (PHC) clinic.
The facility was constructed at a cost of N$12 million, and was completed in November 2015.
The establishment of the clinic at the Eloolo village is the culmination of efforts by reverend Sakaria Nashongo, local farmer Ismael Shailemo and a local nurse, the late Ndamono Shankala, between 1984 and 1987. Haufiku explained that Nashongo, Shailemo and Shankala facilitated the establishment of a small structure which became an outreach point in 1990.
As the Eloolo community grew, the service had to be moved to the hall of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (Elcin) in 2006.
“The Oshana regional health directorate appreciated the efforts, and drafted a proposal for the establishment of this PHC clinic,” the minister said.
The clinic moved into the new building in March last year, with Elizabeth Mengela becoming the nurse-in-charge.
It serves a catchment of 4 797 people, who used to travel 30 kilometres to the Ondangwa health centre and 60km to the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital, respectively.
Haufiku said respiratory tract infections, diarrhoea, musculoskeletal disease, skin disease and hypertension are some of the most common conditions treated at the Eloolo HPC clinic.
Other services offered at the clinic include health education, growth monitoring and promotion, immunisation, antenatal and post-natal care, family planning, pregnancy tests, screening, tuberculosis investigation and testing as well as Pap smear and HIV counselling and testing.
Also speaking at the event, Oshana governor Clemens Kashuupulwa appealed to the health ministry to make more budgetary provisions for the construction of additional health centres to complement those at Ondangwa, Ongwediva, Ou-Nick and Okatana.
The establishment of the Eloolo PHC brings the total number of clinics in the region to 10, he said.
The others are Ekamba, Okau Kamasheshe, Ehafo, Onamutayi, Uukwiyuushona, Enkono, Eheke, Okaku and Okaukuejo.
