Inside the N$3.2b Havana hospital project… realities, hurdles and the road ahead

**Uakutura Kambaekua **

When the government held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Windhoek District Hospital in the Havana suburb two years ago, it brought citizens a wave of relief.

For a capital city grappling with severe congestion at the Katutura Intermediate Hospital and the Windhoek Central Hospital, the planned health facility was envisioned as a vital solution to improve healthcare delivery in Windhoek and the country in general. Former Health Minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula outlined that the facility was designed to have a 500-bed capacity, complete with essential infrastructure like staff accommodation, mental health units, and frail care.

While a fast-track program targeted completion within the year, practical realities on the ground have since tested those projections.

Amid growing public discourse and scrutiny over construction timelines, Dr Shangula and officials within the Ministry have since stepped forward to clear the air.

Taking Nampa down memory lane, Shangula recounted how the Havana hospital was part of a broader national mandate to construct five major hospitals, with Windhoek prioritised specifically to relieve the heavy strain on existing medical institutions within the Khomas region.

“Five hospitals were identified to be built, namely, Nkurenkuru District Hospital, Oshana District Hospital, Windhoek District Hospital, Otjiwarongo Regional Hospital, and Oshana Referral Hospital. Due to severe congestion at Katutura Intermediate Hospital, it was decided to build the Windhoek District Hospital first so that Katutura Hospital can provide specialist services and conduct research aimed at improving the quality of services,” he remarked.

Shangula noted that in 2019, preparations for the hospital construction began, including the conceptualisation of its role in the healthcare delivery system.

Initially, it was envisaged to be a 250-bed hospital. However, as more functions became imperative, the total number of beds doubled to 500. The next issue to be considered was the location and the acquisition of the land on which the hospital would be built. Havana suburb was identified as a suitable location for the intended hospital,” he noted.

According to Shangula, negotiations with the City of Windhoek were initiated for the land to be donated to the Ministry; however, negotiations dragged on until the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

“All these processes started in 2019 and continued into the beginning of 2020. It must be pointed out that all these processes are mandatory and there were no undue delays experienced,” he added.

He stated that delays were attributed to the national State of Emergency for Covid-19, which prioritised pandemic response until 15 July 2022.

Shangula reported that the hospital construction process resumed with the reassembly of the professional team in 2023. The team developed the construction phases and roadmap, with phase one scheduled for the 2023-2025 financial years, focusing on topographical and geotechnical investigations, town planning, environmental impact assessment, site analysis, conceptual design, and preliminary cost estimation.

Phase two, planned for 2024, involved site clearance, tender documentation, preparation of the Bill of Quantities, contractor appointment, and groundbreaking. Phase three, from 2024 to 2025, focused on constructing bulk services and access roads.

“This roadmap is for a fast-track programme, which sees some activities running concurrently. Under the normal construction programme, the construction of this hospital is supposed to be completed in 2029,” he affirmed.

The former minister emphasised that the construction of the hospital is experiencing minimal delays, which is typical for projects of this scale.

He stated that the Professional Team, comprising Architects, Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, and Sakhiwo Health Solution, is responsible for executing the project.

Shangula affirmed that the project remains on track, acknowledging the urgent need for the hospital, but urged the public not to succumb to despair.

The health ministry’s public relations officer, Walter Kamaya, recently confirmed that funding has been secured, noting that external bulk earthworks, as well as water and electrical components, are planned as part of Phase three.

“As per procurement regulations, the process following completion of bidding documents requires not less than six months, covering advertisement, evaluation, award, and a further minimum of 30 days for issuance of performance guarantees. These steps are mandatory and contributed to the delay,” he noted.

Kamaya reported that external bulk civil and electrical works are in progress. However, substantial delays in bulk civil works have arisen due to the contractor’s financial difficulties and residents encroaching on service areas along Peter Nanyemba Street.

The anticipated revised completion of the access road and bulk electricity is at the end of October, he confirmed.

The current estimate in the project documentation is lower than previously quoted, with the total projected cost for the hospital now at N$3.2 billion, an increase from the initial N$2.9 billion.

Kamaya confirmed that the main hospital is planned for construction in the upcoming calendar year, alongside ongoing internal bulk earthworks. The timeline for starting the main hospital building will depend on financing and the contractor’s capacity.

In a significant move to accelerate public healthcare infrastructure, Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare and Minister of Health and Social Services Dr Esperance Luvindao have set an ambitious 18-month timeline for building four new hospitals in Otjiwarongo, Ondangwa, Nkurenkuru, and Havana in Windhoek.

During a recent visit to Otjiwarongo, the leaders outlined crucial milestones to expedite the projects from planning to construction. Ngurare confirmed that funding is secured, cautioning against unnecessary delays: “If there was no money, I would understand, but in this case, funds are available.”

Ngurare stressed the importance of collaboration between the central ministry and local authorities for effective governance and implementation. He also encouraged community involvement, especially among unemployed youth, through structured “food for cash” and “cash for work” initiatives to enhance local engagement and economic development.

Stakeholders will reconvene soon to ensure alignment on outstanding prerequisites before contractor engagement, aimed for early January 2027.

The Prime Minister assured that strong oversight will be in place throughout the implementation phase, ensuring that contractors deliver high-quality healthcare facilities on time and within budget, ultimately enhancing public health services and community access nationwide.

– Nampa

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