Health ministry to build 10 ICUs in hospitals across the country

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The Ministry of Health and Social Services will build intensive care units (ICUs) at 10 health facilities across the country, to help with the management of critically ill patients across Namibia.

This is according to the ministry’s Executive Director, Ben Nangombe, who told Nampa that the ministry has identified gaps in the health system and areas that need urgent improvement, such as the provision of more ICUs across the country.

“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, we had a few ICUs and high care units across the country. We only had ICUs at Onandjokwe hospital in Oshikoto Region, Oshakati in Oshana Region and Central Hospital in Khomas. This meant that all critically ill patients who needed intensive care were transported to these three facilities,” Nangombe said, adding that the pandemic has since shown that the system is not suitable and does not allow them to efficiently respond to health emergencies.

He noted that a 15-bed ICU is set to be completed by early October at the Keetmanshoop State Hospital in the ||Kharas Region. Nangombe said architectural and engineering designs for a 14-bed ICU at Katima Mulilo State Hospital in Zambezi Region have been finalised and approved by the Ministry of Works and Transport and bidding documentation are ready for presentation to the ministry’s procurement committee.

The other hospitals set to benefit from the ICU project include the Outapi hospital in Omusati Region, Otjiwarongo hospital in Otjozondjupa, Rundu in Kavango East, Gobabis in Omaheke, Mariental in Hardap, Engela in Ohangwena, Opuwo in Kunene Region and Nankudu hospital in Kavango West.

While not giving the exact cost of the project, Nangombe said it will mainly involve repurposing existing infrastructure.

The ministry is further assessing the functionality of existing mortuaries in the country and calls for quotations to repair non-functioning mortuaries have been submitted to the internal procurement committee.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency