Fifty-four state patients in the Erongo region are expected to benefit from a new dialysis unit inaugurated at Walvis Bay District Hospital on Thursday.
The facility forms part of the Ministry of Health and Social Services’ programme to expand dialysis services at public hospitals and reduce the need for patients to travel long distances for treatment.
Deputy minister of health and social services Suzan Ndjaleka said the demand for dialysis services in the region has increased over the past year.
“As of 2024, the Erongo region had a total of 27 state patients that were receiving dialysis once, twice, and even three times a week from the private dialysis unit in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay towns,” she said.
She said this number increased to 54 patients in 2025.
The new unit is expected to reduce the burden on patients who previously relied on private facilities or travelled outside the region to access treatment.
“Upon opening of this facility, patients will be spared long journeys. They will receive healthcare services closer to home and the cost per patient to the state will reduce as well,” Ndjaleka said.
According to the ministry, chronic kidney disease and acute renal failure remain significant health challenges in Namibia, increasing the need for dialysis services.
Ndjaleka said the Walvis Bay facility forms part of government’s efforts to decentralise specialised healthcare services.
“This dialysis unit came as a deliberate effort by the government to carefully plan and decentralise dialysis services to different facilities across the regions,” she said.
The unit has six dialysis machines, including one dedicated to an isolation room for patients with infectious diseases.
The ministry renovated the facility at a cost of N$1.6 million to accommodate the new service.
Ndjaleka said doctors and nurses were recently recruited specifically for the unit.
She called on healthcare workers to maintain quality standards and infection prevention measures while providing care to patients.
