THE Ministry of Health and Social Services is currently constructing a new, state-of-the-art maternity ward at Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital to a tune of more than N$50 million.
The new maternity ward will boost 160 beds once completed.
Onandjokwe hospital delivers about 700 babies monthly, while on average 7 668 babies are delivered at Onandjokwe annually.
This has prompted the 70-bed extension at the maternity ward.
Ben Nangombe, the executive director of healht and social services, on Friday said the new maternity ward at Onandjokwe will be the biggest maternal facility in the country due to the high number of monthly deliveries at the town.
“This new maternity ward will be one of the biggest maternal facilities in the whole country, and it’s a modern facility. There have been reports in the past of inadequate space – particularly at the maternity ward at Onandjokwe, given the catchment area of the hospital.
“We really want to push for the completion of this project so that it is completed on time. We also want to see an improvement in the services being rendered to make sure mothers and babies are given the services they need efficiently and on time,” he said.
Nangombe said the ministry wants all the funds planned for projects to be utilised for their intended purposes, and the provision of services prioritised at all times.
He said the actual construction of the maternity ward commenced in 2016, but could not be completed on time due to some delays.
“The project has been delayed for some time now. We are pleased that the contractor has been cooporative in this area.
“The ministry is on a mission to expand public health facilities in the country in an effort to provide quality services,” he said.
The new ward is also expected to ease the hospital’s existing overcrowded maternity ward – an issue the public has been complaining about for quite some time.
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