Omaheke Governor Pijoo Nganate has taken a swipe at those preaching doom and gloom in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, saying the situation that has gripped the nation shall come to pass.

Nganate, whose region Omaheke has been heavily affected by COVID-19 and related deaths over the past few weeks, said the picture being painted is distasteful.

“We all know that 80 per cent of the positive cases are recovering. It is not true that the health sector of Omaheke has collapsed,” Nganate vented while being interviewed by NBC’s Omurari radio station on Monday.

He conceded that there are challenges, but that these are not insurmountable.

“Of course we have challenges. Our health professionals are overwhelmed but there is no collapse. It is true that what we are facing is concerning. The undertakers and mortuaries are equally under pressure. Our oxygen supply which normally caters for our population is currently insufficient. These are real challenges, but we will not despair in the face of adversity,” said Nganate.

Omaheke’s capital, Gobabis, currently has five COVID-19 isolation centres including the refurbished public hospital.

“Under normal circumstances, we had four doctors. Currently, we have seven doctors who operate around the clock. For them it is not easy to work simultaneously at all five centres. Our nurses also have to be divided among all the centres; that is not easy,” he added.

Being classified as the third-poorest region in the country by the recent Namibia Statistics Agency report, its harsh living conditions and income disparity between the haves and have nots have been blown wide open by the pandemic, Nganate lamented.

“We are the third region in terms of unemployment. But all is not lost.”

So far, the Omaheke Regional Council has availed N.dollars 500 000 to help procure additional oxygen for the hospitals and COVID-19 centres in the region, he revealed.

Nganate went on to call on farmers in the region known as ‘Cattle Country’ to come on board through a beef levy that would be dedicated to fighting the pandemic.

For Nganate, it is pointless for farmers to cling to their cattle at this point.

“It is better for your cattle to save your life than it being slaughtered at your funeral. Even at funerals these days, people no longer slaughter animals due to the limited number of people in attendance. Farmers should come on board and put their cattle where it matters most,” he pleaded.

Source: Namibia Press Agency