Power failure hits central hospital … operating theatre affected

THE Windhoek Central Hospital theatre was plunged into darkness on Wednesday night when power failed, affecting the operating theatre and other services.

The hospital was still without electricity yesterday afternoon, and the Ministry of Health and Social Services spokesperson Ester Paulus said no major emergency operations were reported. Staff at the hospital said they do not know what caused the power failure. “Electricians are now on site to solve the problem. All emergency operations will be taken to private hospitals, while the scheduled operations will take place as soon as the theatre is operational,” Paulus said.

When The Namibian visited yesterday afternoon, patients scheduled for operations were waiting for the power to be restored while a team of electricians was hard at work trying to fix the problem.

The theatre nursing staff were idle, while three of the first patients booked for operations lay on their beds in the darkness, waiting to be transported back to their wards.

Some nurses told The Namibian that there were many patients booked for operations, although they did not give a specific number.

“There are a lot (of patients) because the operating theatre at the Katutura State Hospital is also not working due to construction work currently taking place there,” said a nurse at the theatre.

She also said as a result of the upgrade, patients from the Katutura hospital were being referred to the Central Hospital for operations.

A notice on the door at the Katutura theatre informed the public that the facility will only be operational from 13 February 2014 and that all operations will take place at the central hospital.

“Patients have been asked to return to their wards while the problem is being fixed and those from Katutura hospital have also been sent back,” said the nurse.

Relatives of patients accused the hospital administration of failing to have back-up generators for one of their crucial wards.

The mother of a 20-year-old patient from Swakopmund, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said her daughter was sent from the Katutura hospital to the Central Hospital for an operation yesterday morning, only to be sent back because of the power failure.

“I asked them why they don’t have a back-up generator and whether it was their problem or the municipality’s problem,” she said. “What do they do in the case of someone who needs an urgent operation? Do they not do anything because they don’t have a back-up plan?” she asked.

The hospital’s superintendent Sara Shalongo could not comment as she was in a workshop.

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