Otavi: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Health and Social Services on Wednesday questioned the monthly rental fee of N.dollars 50,000 being paid by the government for the use of the building in which the Kombat Clinic operates in the Otavi Constituency. The chairperson of the committee, Nono Katjingisiua, along with 14 other Members of Parliament, is on a two-week-long site visit to several capital projects in the Otjozondjupa Region that were implemented during the 2021-2022 and 2023-2024 financial years.

According to Namibia Press Agency, during discussions with the Senior Medical Officer of the Grootfontein District, Dr. Martinus Shaninga, under whose jurisdiction Kombat falls, the rental fee of N.dollars 50,000 per month being paid by the government to lease the Kombat Clinic building was described as high. The chairperson noted that the annual rental amounts to N.dollars 600,000, which would be sufficient for the government to purchase its own fully established building at the settlement. Katjingisiua and her committee members suggested that a better and permanent solution to the Kombat Clinic situation should be explored.

Shaninga mentioned that the clinic has been providing medical services to the community from this private building for over 10 years, resulting in a total expenditure of N.dollars 6 million. Otjozondjupa Governor John //Khamuseb, along with the Chairperson of the Otjozondjupa Regional Council, Paulus Nekundi, who were also present at the meeting in Kombat, promised to discuss the matter further once the oversight visits are completed next Friday.

The committee has already visited Otjiwarongo State Hospital, Kalkfeld Clinic, Orwetoveni Clinic, Grootfontein State Hospital, and Kombat Clinic. Visits to health facilities in Gam, Tsumkwe, Omatako, Mangetti Dune, Otjituuo, Okakarara, Okondjatu, Okahandja, and Okandjira are scheduled next.