Nkurenkuru: Consultants from KPM Environmental Consulting on Thursday held an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) consultation for the proposed Nkurenkuru District Hospital, engaging residents, community leaders, and stakeholders on the project scope and potential impacts. KPM's senior environmental assessment practitioner, Emmanuel Hamadziripi, stated that the process is a statutory requirement designed to ensure the hospital is developed responsibly.According to Namibia Press Agency, Hamadziripi emphasized the importance of stakeholder engagement as part of the environmental impact assessment process to ensure sustainable development and mitigate any negative environmental impacts, in compliance with the Environmental Management Act of 2007 and constitutional obligations to protect the environment.The acting senior medical officer of Nankudu District Hospital, Clementine Kabono, highlighted the risks associated with referring patients to the Rundu Intermediate Hospital, approximately 130 kilometers aw ay, which has resulted in numerous fatalities. She stressed the impact a new hospital would have on the community and advocated for it to operate at an intermediate or regional level, offering comprehensive specialist services to avoid long-distance referrals.Kabono pointed out that despite the project being launched in 2014 and land being donated by the town council, progress has stalled. She called for the hospital to be equipped to the standards of an intermediate or regional facility.Local authority councillor Gabriel Tenga expressed the need for a modern, well-equipped hospital featuring reliable water supply, effective waste systems, and essential utilities. He questioned the decision to establish a district-level hospital when Nankudu District Hospital already exists, and urged the government to deliver a facility that meets higher standards. Tenga also criticized the decade-long delay in development despite the allocation of free land, emphasizing the importance of incorporating community input in to decision-making.The development of the hospital is aligned with the Ministry of Health and Social Services Roadmap for 2030, which aims to decentralize healthcare services. The Kavango West Region has been prioritized for receiving a hospital more than a decade after the initial announcement.Tenga also advocated for the recruitment of at least 70 percent of the hospital staff from the Kavango West Region to enhance local capacity and ensure community involvement.