Africa-Press – Namibia. Oshana governor Hofni Iipinge has hailed the construction of a N$15 million oncology and medical imaging centre in Ongwediva as a major step towards decentralising healthcare in northern Namibia.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony this week, Iipinge said the facility will serve more than 850,000 residents across the Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshikoto and Oshana regions—eliminating the need to travel over 600 kilometres to Windhoek for cancer treatment.
“This development brings quality healthcare closer to home. It strengthens our support systems and gives families the chance to face health challenges together and not far from their loved ones,” he said.
The Namibia Oncology Centre (NOC), which operates a facility in Windhoek, is behind the project. The new centre is expected to open in July 2026.
NOC’s Financial Director, Stephanie Quarmby, said the expansion represents restored dignity for communities in the north.
“For the first time, a grandmother from Outapi will receive chemotherapy while her family brings her home-cooked meals. A father from Ondangwa can continue radiotherapy without choosing between treatment and his children’s school fees for accommodation in Windhoek,” she said.
Since 2015, NOC has treated nearly 8 000 patients. Quarmby said the new centre is not only about medical care but about keeping families together during treatment.
“Cancer treatment is not just about medical excellence but about preserving the human connections that fuel healing,” she added.
Cancer survivor Ndayelekwa Kayofa, currently receiving treatment at NOC, said: “What truly heals is being seen not as a case number but as a person with dreams and a purpose worth fighting for.”
For More News And Analysis About Namibia Follow Africa-Press
