Nkurenkuru: The Kavango West Chief Regional Officer, Matheus Singambwe, has called for urgent collaboration between government sectors to address critical water and sanitation challenges affecting schools and health facilities across the region. Speaking at a water and sanitation forum at Nkurenkuru Community Hall, Singambwe emphasised that water and sanitation issues cannot be treated as secondary concerns in government infrastructure projects.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Singambwe stated, "We have taken a collective and collaborative decision where we have given our construction for the new classrooms with ablution facilities to the Namibia Training Authority (NTA), and this construction should not happen without water and sanitation." The Chief Regional Officer highlighted severe sanitation problems plaguing local schools, where high student populations are straining inadequate facilities. He pointed to blocked sewers and an inconsistent water supply as major concerns requiring immediate attention.

"We have water, and sometimes this water supply is not at a consistent level," Singambwe explained, noting that some schools face dangerous sanitation conditions that compromise student health and safety. The Ministry of Education has allocated funding for new classroom construction at several schools, including La Tourism Private School and 1000 School, with the Namibia Training Authority overseeing the projects. These developments aim to create employment opportunities for VTC graduates and unemployed youth.

Singambwe stressed that health facilities are particularly vulnerable to water supply disruptions, where basic water access is essential for life-saving medical activities. Hospitals and clinics across Kavango West have struggled to maintain consistent operations during water shortages. The regional officer called on forum members to provide technical expertise and guidance to ensure proper sanitation systems are integrated into all new construction projects. He emphasised the need for sustainable solutions that can handle the region's growing population demands.

"My expectations from the colleagues, the sectors under this committee of water, or the forum of water and sanitation, are to see how the water and sanitation issues also reach the schools," Singambwe said. The forum addressed community pleas for improved water infrastructure and highlighted the competition for limited water resources in Namibia's dry climate. Singambwe concluded by calling for collaboration among government sectors to make meaningful progress on these critical infrastructure challenges.