Hospitals have power again

ELECTRICITY has been restored to the Otjiwarongo and Grootfontein State Hospitals after they were left in the dark for more than 48 hours.

Dr Norbert Forster of the Ministry of Health said “some issues with the supplier” led to the power cut this week, but that “it’s been addressed”. “Cenored has confirmed that electricity is back at hospitals in all central areas,” Forster said.The Namibian reported on Wednesday that the Otjiwarongo State Hospital, the main referral hospital in the area, had been without electricity for two days.Patients and medical personnel were forced to use candlelight, while the mortuary was running on an emergency generator.On Tuesday, Mburumba Apollus, Chief Executive Officer of the Central North Regional Electricity Distributing Company (Cenored), was not aware of the power cut while the head of the Otjiwarongo Hospital, Dr Sikota Zeko, was too busy to talk to The Namibian.Ferdinand Muharukua, a community activist, earlier called on Health Minister Richard Kamwi to investigate what had led to the power outage and to take serious action against the culprits.”Cenored has confirmed that electricity is back at hospitals in all central areas,” Forster said.The Namibian reported on Wednesday that the Otjiwarongo State Hospital, the main referral hospital in the area, had been without electricity for two days.Patients and medical personnel were forced to use candlelight, while the mortuary was running on an emergency generator.On Tuesday, Mburumba Apollus, Chief Executive Officer of the Central North Regional Electricity Distributing Company (Cenored), was not aware of the power cut while the head of the Otjiwarongo Hospital, Dr Sikota Zeko, was too busy to talk to The Namibian.Ferdinand Muharukua, a community activist, earlier called on Health Minister Richard Kamwi to investigate what had led to the power outage and to take serious action against the culprits.