Africa-Press – Namibia. Rehoboth residents expressed frustration over poor health service delivery during an engagement with the Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Esperance Luvindao, on Sunday.
The meeting, organised by Hardap region Governor Riaan McNab and the minister’s office, served as a platform for residents to raise concerns about healthcare in Rehoboth.
Community member Salome Beukes highlighted the lack of critical medical equipment at both the local clinic and hospital.
“There is a serious shortage of facilities, especially the absence of a CT scan. We are forced to travel to Windhoek or even Mariental for services that should be available here. I also have a problem with the rudeness of some healthcare workers, particularly toward the elderly,” Beukes said.
Social worker Levina Negongo said she was worried about substance abuse among the youth and urged the health ministry to prioritise funding for mental health and social services. She recommended placing psychologists and social workers in local schools to enable early intervention and appealed for improved training for healthcare workers to ensure patients are treated with dignity.
“I hope, the minister, that you include social workers in your budget because we urgently need them in our community. We have a serious problem with substance abuse, especially among young children. Please send psychologists and social workers to our schools so we can intervene early,” Negongo said.
Other residents called for the construction of a state hospital, a rehabilitation centre for mental health patients, and the placement of a cancer specialist in the area. They said patients often do not receive timely care, medication or injections, leaving vulnerable groups neglected.
Responding to the concerns, Naemi Shoopala, director of primary healthcare services, assured residents that the ministry is working on improving customer care and decentralising mental health services.
The minister acknowledged the concerns and stressed that the ministry is committed to addressing them, while reminding residents that improvements take time.
“We will go back to the team and discuss how we can improve customer care services. Regarding infrastructure, CT scans, and other challenges, we have heard your concerns and are working on addressing them. It may not happen overnight, but all I ask is for you to have a little hope in us that healthcare services will get better,” Luvindao stated.
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