Eenhana: The Ohangwena Region recorded a significant number of tuberculosis (TB) and malaria cases during the 2024/25 financial year. Ohangwena Governor, Kadiva Hamutumwa, during her State of the Region Address (SORA) at Eenhana on Monday, revealed the region investigated 8,552 presumptive TB cases and confirmed 742 of them, with 700 identified as new or relapse cases.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Hamutumwa highlighted that the region also reported 29 cases of Drug-Resistant TB out of 630 positive GenExpert cases. She also noted the successful implementation of the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme, which has been active in all 34 clinics and two health centres in the region since its inception, supported by well-trained healthcare workers.

Hamutumwa further indicated that during the period under review, the region confirmed 3,768 malaria-positive cases, with 11 patients succumbing to severe complications. She emphasized that these deaths were often due to cases being reported too late, underscoring the need for timely healthcare interventions.

To improve healthcare access and services, Hamutumwa mentioned that the Ministry of Health and Social Services undertook several capital projects. These included the completion of the Onanghulo Primary Health Care Clinic at a cost of N.dollars 10 million and the Onamafila Primary Health Care Clinic for N.dollars 19 million.

Additionally, construction on a pre-fabricated clinic at Onamukulo was reported to be 91 percent complete, with plans for new clinics and staff housing in the Elundu/Ohehonge and Oshuuli areas. Furthermore, three outreach clinics were completed in the Engela Constituency at a cost of N.dollars 150,000.