Health at Otjiwarongo

OVER the years the Otjiwarongo District Hospital has catered for many patients, as it continues to do, but the healthcare system remains a problem for the community of Otjiwarongo.

Martin Wasserfall, an enrolled nurse/midwife, who he has worked at the hospital for at least three years, said that the hospital usually has to attend to a range of cases, which includes motor vehicle accidents and stab wounds. Unfortunately, cases – including cancer – cannot be treated locally, and patients are then referred to hospitals in Windhoek.’The services here are not good and they need to do something about it,’ said Katjire Karera, a resident of the Etambi location. He said that many patients – often in pain – have to wait in queues before being consulted. ‘Someone could even die while being transported,’ said Karera about the transporting of patients from Otjiwarongo to Windhoek.With the increased concern around the H1N1Virus (‘Swine Flu’), Wasserfall realised it’s the outpatients who benefit more from health education. ‘I think that the people should be educated on this … they had put up signs about it but not many people read those messages,’ added Wasserfall.According to him, the town has two State medical facilities – namely the Otjiwarongo District Hospital and the Dental Clinic. ‘We have the Owretoweni Clinic which is within walking distance for the people who live in the settlements,’ he said.Wasserfall said that presently the hospital does not have a gynaecologist nor any eye specialist. They allegedly also lack the equipment to administer proper tests. However, they do have four ambulances.’Medical services are not enough … some don’t have medical aid, and I think that they should reduce the monthly installments,’ said Kawana Andreas, a resident of Katlahong.’We need more space and qualified doctors, and the way it looks now, I feel it still needs improvement … At the end of the day it should be a hospital,’ advised Wasserfall.According to Karera it is the Ministry’s responsibility to conduct regular inspections to ensure that the hospital is up and running, otherwise development might be hindered.But, Andreas stressed that Otjiwarongo happens to be the main town in the Otjozondjupa Region and, therefore, everything should be available in the town rather than depend on Windhoek. He said that the town should be the centre of the surrounding villages and, therefore, should be equipped. – Echoes Polytechnic Student News Service