We Cannot Gamble With The Health Of Our Nation

THE abysmal state of public health facilities in Namibia is not something that has happened overnight.

It has developed (or rather deteriorated) over the years. Unfortunately, however, the warning signs were largely ignored.There were even those – in many cases officials who should have known better – who tried to sweep the problems under the carpet.Today we sit with a situation in our health sector which is unacceptable and someone must take responsibility for it.Five months ago, The Namibian was present at a meeting at which Health Minister Dr Richard Kamwi raised exactly the same concerns now making headlines.Water and electricity payments were not made on time – according to Kamwi sometimes even a year late! – crucial information was being kept away from him, only 48 per cent of directors’ positions and 46 per cent of deputy directors’ positions at management level were filled and there was a serious lack of factual reporting from within the Ministry.At that stage, Kamwi said that the picture was worrisome and seriously hampered the Ministry of Health’s ability to execute their plans.”The deficit is alarming.Quite frankly, I am concerned,” he said at the time.Five months down the line, nothing has changed.In fact, the situation has got worse.This is nothing short of alarming.Among others, it tells us that Kamwi’s words fell on deaf ears.No one listened.Why? And who’s responsibility is it to take action against those who refuse to carry out instructions? Who are those officials who seemingly do not have the national interest at heart, but who prefer to stand on position? Why are they being allowed to gamble with the health of our nation? Why are they not being brought to book? Whether it’s ego, arrogance or politics at play, it needs to be dealt with.Sadly, Health is not the only sector infected by this type of scenario.Since Independence, health, together with spending on education, and more recently also defence and debt servicing, has consistently been one of the single largest items of expenditure in the annual national Budget.The current realisation of the perilous state of key components of the national health infrastructure indicates that we are not getting value for the money spent on health.This diseased state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue.Kamwi and his Deputy Petrina Haingura, as we know, were both appointed by President Hifikepunye Pohamba.They inherited an already deteriorating situation.They have been given a mandate and need to be supported at every level – from the bottom up and the top down.This week Kamwi briefed the President on what is happening in the Ministry.Why can’t the Public Service Commission and the Office of the Prime Minister take their cue from the President and call the rest of the management to order? At the end of the day, the management of health institutions is supposed to be from the ground up – ensuring that things work properly, or are reported when they are not.And to ensure that when they are reported, something is done.What about those at the Ministry of Works who messed up with tenders for the maintenance of our health facilities? Many tenders passed hands under the table, yet we have not seen any tangible action taken against the culprits.This non-action can only send a wrong impression to the criminals.Political or other differences at political or personal level cannot be allowed to affect our health service delivery.We have reached the tipping point.The time for excuses is past.We support President Pohamba’s call for action NOW.So should every health professional.Health, like education, is a right.We cannot allow it to be gambled with.Unfortunately, however, the warning signs were largely ignored.There were even those – in many cases officials who should have known better – who tried to sweep the problems under the carpet.Today we sit with a situation in our health sector which is unacceptable and someone must take responsibility for it.Five months ago, The Namibian was present at a meeting at which Health Minister Dr Richard Kamwi raised exactly the same concerns now making headlines.Water and electricity payments were not made on time – according to Kamwi sometimes even a year late! – crucial information was being kept away from him, only 48 per cent of directors’ positions and 46 per cent of deputy directors’ positions at management level were filled and there was a serious lack of factual reporting from within the Ministry.At that stage, Kamwi said that the picture was worrisome and seriously hampered the Ministry of Health’s ability to execute their plans.”The deficit is alarming.Quite frankly, I am concerned,” he said at the time.Five months down the line, nothing has changed.In fact, the situation has got worse.This is nothing short of alarming.Among others, it tells us that Kamwi’s words fell on deaf ears.No one listened.Why? And who’s responsibility is it to take action against those who refuse to carry out instructions? Who are those officials who seemingly do not have the national interest at heart, but who prefer to stand on position? Why are they being allowed to gamble with the health of our nation? Why are they not being brought to book? Whether it’s ego, arrogance or politics at play, it needs to be dealt with.Sadly, Health is not the only sector infected by this type of scenario.Since Independence, health, together with spending on education, and more recently also defence and debt servicing, has consistently been one of the single largest items of expenditure in the annual national Budget.The current realisation of the perilous state of key components of the national health infrastructure indicates that we are not getting value for the money spent on health.This diseased state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue.Kamwi and his Deputy Petrina Haingura, as we know, were both appointed by President Hifikepunye Pohamba.They inherited an already deteriorating situation.They have been given a mandate and need to be supported at every level – from the bottom up and the top down.This week Kamwi briefed the President on what is happening in the Ministry.Why can’t the Public Service Commission and the Office of the Prime Minister take their cue from the President and call the rest of the management to order? At the end of the day, the management of health institutions is supposed to be from the ground up – ensuring that things work properly, or are reported when they are not.And to ensure that when they are reported, something is done.What about those at the Ministry of Works who messed up with tenders for the maintenance of our health facilities? Many tenders passed hands under the table, yet we have not seen any tangible action taken against the culprits.This non-action can only send a wrong impression to the criminals.Political or other differences at political or personal level cannot be allowed to affect our health service delivery.We have reached the tipping point.The time for excuses is past.We support President Pohamba’s call for action NOW.So should every health professional.Health, like education, is a right.We cannot allow it to be gambled with.