Katima mulilo: The renovation of the Katima Mulilo District Hospital remains a priority for the Ministry of Health and Social Services, but financial constraints have stalled comprehensive development, Zambezi Governor Dorothy Kabula-Simushi has said.According to Namibia Press Agency, delivering her State of the Region Address on Monday, the governor said to navigate these fiscal limitations, the ministry has shifted toward isolated, targeted upgrades across the hospital premises. These include the construction of a new dental unit which is currently 95% complete. Additionally, a new dialysis unit has been successfully commissioned and inaugurated at a total cost of N$1.7 million.Progress at Muzii clinic in Kabbe South Constituency is ongoing after a new contractor was appointed in December 2025 at a cost of N$3 million with delays on the project caused by seasonal flooding. The governor also said the ministry recruited 158 staff members, including the deployment of port health officials to regional borde r posts, where they screened 482,466 travelers entering Namibia during the 2025/26 review period.Additionally, the Zambezi Region recorded over 20,000 malaria cases and 12 related deaths. "It should be noted that 141 children under five years were admitted with severe malnutrition compared to 239 admitted during the same period in 2024/25, which represents an improvement of 59%. A total of 2,792 births were registered during the period under review, while 616 deaths were also registered," Kabula-Simushi said.The governor further said the central medical stores operated at 57.3% capacity, falling short of the 75% service target and resulting in medicine shortages across numerous regional facilities. Kabula-Simushi also reiterated her ongoing concern regarding the logistical strain caused by the 500-kilometre distance between Katima Mulilo and the Rundu Intermediate referral hospital. "Sixty percent of our fleet is obsolete and needs urgent replacement," she said.Turning to the education sector, the gover nor identified human capital development as a fundamental driver of regional growth. She reported continued efforts to enhance the learning environment, including extensive classroom construction and renovations at identified schools, alongside ongoing tertiary development initiatives and bilateral cooperation programmes at the local UNAM campus and vocational training centers in the region.