Kawana pleads for more hospitals in Zambezi

Former justice minister Albert Kawana has called on the government to urgently address the shortage of hospital infrastructure in the Zambezi region.

In the interim of bringing services to the people, and reducing referrals to Rundu and Windhoek, the Katima Mulilo Hospital is in transition to an Intermediate Hospital.

Kawana said residents continue to suffer as patients requiring specialised medical attention are referred to Rundu, approximately 524 kilometres away, with some subsequently transferred to Windhoek.

He said the long distances are particularly dangerous for critically ill patients, given the region’s extreme temperatures, which have reportedly remained above 40 degrees Celsius for the past three weeks.

“People are dying. Some of the people have died between Katima and Rundu. On the way, they have died, a lot of them,” Kawana said.

He said residents must travel more than
1 000 kilometres on a round trip to visit relatives receiving treatment in Rundu, placing additional financial and emotional strain on families.

Kawana said traditional authorities have repeatedly raised the matter with national leaders, arguing that the region’s healthcare infrastructure remains inadequate compared with other parts of the country.

He questioned why Zambezi has only one hospital while other regions have several healthcare facilities serving their populations.

“Some of these things have very, very serious political implications. They are very sensitive,” he said. Although retired from active politics, Kawana appealed to the government to find an amicable solution without further delay, saying the continued suffering of residents cannot be justified.

He expressed confidence that President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and the country’s leadership would consider the concerns of Zambezi residents.

“This issue can never be delayed any further,” Kawana said, reiterating his appeal for urgent intervention to improve access to healthcare in the region. –[email protected]

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