KEETMANSHOOP – Discussions are ongoing to resolve the impasse between the Ministry of Health and Social Services and a contractor for the completion of the TB hospital at Keetmanshoop in the //Kharas region.
The ministry’s executive director Ben Nangombe said in a media statement issued on Saturday that the construction of the hospital started in August 2015, and was expected to be completed in August 2016.
The hospital, which is 86 per cent completed, cost the ministry N$ 46 203 773, of which N$ 34 058 204 has so far been used.
Nangombe stated that the ministry appointed a new contractor to build prefabricated staff accommodation at the Tses, Warmbad and Aroab clinics after the initial contractor failed to carry out the job.
“The contract was terminated on 5 October 2015 due to non-performance, and the new contractor appointed in 2018 is on course to finalise the project within the stipulated contract period,” he noted.
For this project, N$ 4 729 368-48 was budgeted, and N$ 2 307 790-64 has thus far been spent.
Meanwhile, the Oranjemund Town Council has provided the ministry with land for the construction of staff accommodation and a health centre at the diamond town.
The designs for the construction of these facilities were finalised and approved by the Ministry of Works and Transport, and will cost the health ministry N$ 49 million.
Nangombe also revealed in the statement that the ministry plans to build staff accommodation and a new health centre at Aussenkehr, as the current clinic is too small.
“The clinic has limited consulting rooms, as well as no space for overnight patients. During the peak grape season, Aussenkehr has a population of 40,000 people,” he observed.
The //Kharas Regional Council has made land available for the construction of those facilities, and a detailed design was also approved by works. – Nampa.
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