Windhoek: Poor and unreliable network coverage is undermining healthcare delivery in Kavango West, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) heard on Monday during its engagement with stakeholders in the region.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Thadeus Siteketa, system administrator for the Kavango West Region, spoke on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, highlighting that many clinics in the region face significant challenges in utilizing basic digital health tools due to unstable internet and voice call services. Facilities in Mupini, Bunya, and Tondoro are among the hardest hit, given their proximity to the river and distance from existing communication towers.
Siteketa emphasized the struggles faced by healthcare workers, noting, "Sometimes we have to leave the facility and move with the device just to find a spot with network." This lack of connectivity results in delayed communication between clinics and district hospitals, and hampers access to digital health systems and emergency repairs.
He detailed how poor network connectivity affects several critical healthcare operations, including DHIS2 reporting, electronic patient management systems, telemedicine, video consultations, electronic medicine ordering, and real-time data capturing. The absence of reliable networks leads to delays in report submissions and timely support from district hospitals, impacting stock management and medicine orders as well.
Despite some facilities being near existing infrastructure, they still lack sufficient coverage or bandwidth for fast internet. Siteketa suggested upgrading current towers to 4G or 5G and expanding their coverage radius to encompass remote clinics such as Mile 30, Mile 10, Mpora, Katjinakatji, Mangetti, Ncuncuni, and Sharukwe, along with facilities around Mbambi, Yinsu, Nepara, and Nkurenkuru.
He urged for stronger collaboration among the health directorate, the Universal Service Fund, MTC, Telecom Namibia, and development partners to ensure all public health facilities in Kavango West have dependable voice and internet services. "Reliable communication infrastructure is essential if we want strong healthcare delivery in the long run," Siteketa told the committee. Enhancing connectivity would improve emergency communication and bolster digital health and disease surveillance systems.
The standing committee on ICT's visit to Kavango West aimed to assess the state of ICT infrastructure and services and to collect input from regional stakeholders on the challenges they face and possible solutions.