NA approves coffins for San

THE National Assembly has adopted a motion tabled by an opposition party to provide coffins for the San people so that they don’t have to bury their deceased in plastic bags anymore.

DTA President Katuutire Kaura introduced the motion a month ago, which resulted in a lively debate in an otherwise generally lacklustre parliamentary session. Wrapping up the debate on Friday, Kaura said Government should implement a programme to provide coffins to the San immediately.The Health Ministry should see to it that the remains of patients from rural areas who die in State hospitals are transported back to their homes, he said.During the debate, Agriculture Minister Nickey Iyambo pointed out that this was actually a regulation.However, according to Kaura, it hardly ever happened.”Referral hospitals such as the Oshakati or Katutura State Hospitals never transport the remains of patients back to Katima Mulilo, Rundu, Keetmanshoop or Okahao,” the DTA politician maintained.”The families themselves take back the remains or after a couple of months, in the case of the San people, they are buried in Windhoek by prisoners.If there is such a regulation, it never takes place in practice.I implore the Health Minister to tell superintendents at referral hospitals to implement that programme with immediate effect,” Kaura pleaded.During the debate, Deputy Prime Minister Libertina Amathila informed the House that Government was looking at the possibility of setting up a coffin-manufacturing plant and training San people to make coffins.Wrapping up the debate on Friday, Kaura said Government should implement a programme to provide coffins to the San immediately.The Health Ministry should see to it that the remains of patients from rural areas who die in State hospitals are transported back to their homes, he said.During the debate, Agriculture Minister Nickey Iyambo pointed out that this was actually a regulation.However, according to Kaura, it hardly ever happened.”Referral hospitals such as the Oshakati or Katutura State Hospitals never transport the remains of patients back to Katima Mulilo, Rundu, Keetmanshoop or Okahao,” the DTA politician maintained.”The families themselves take back the remains or after a couple of months, in the case of the San people, they are buried in Windhoek by prisoners.If there is such a regulation, it never takes place in practice.I implore the Health Minister to tell superintendents at referral hospitals to implement that programme with immediate effect,” Kaura pleaded.During the debate, Deputy Prime Minister Libertina Amathila informed the House that Government was looking at the possibility of setting up a coffin-manufacturing plant and training San people to make coffins.