Africa-Press – Namibia. The Bank of Namibia has donated equipment worth N$11 million to the Ministry of Health and Social Services, including a newly constructed oxygen-generating plant, worth N$5.3 million, that was donated to Katima Mulilo State Hospital.
According to deputy health minister Utjiua Muinjangue, the country has experienced serious challenges to the health system because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the face of the pandemic, huge health obstacles have emerged like never experienced before; hence, massive resources were deviated towards mitigating the effects of the pandemic.
She said, one of the challenges the country has faced during the Covid-19 pandemic relates to coping with the demand for oxygen supply to the sick in a sustained manner.
It is for this reason that the government invested significantly in oxygen supply to all the hospitals in Namibia. However, it has become apparent that as the services began to expand, coupled with Covid-19, the demands outstripped the supply. To maintain a sustained supply of oxygen to our clients, procurement of oxygen cylinders has been used as a buffer to avoid a crisis, she said.
Muinjangue said, “The Bank of Namibia installed an oxygen plant sufficient enough to supply adequate oxygen to the hospital, went beyond and above the expectations by repairing all oxygen leakages and points, and created new oxygen points in the renovated neonatal ward”.
In addition, an old and non-functional vacuum extractor to improve infection control in theatre has been replaced by a new one, said the deputy minister.
Nicholas Mukasa, director of financial markets at the Bank of Namibia, during the handover said looking back since the first case was reported in March 2020, Covid-19 has taken a huge toll on everyone, especially during the third wave.
“Covid-19 has put an extraordinary and unprecedented burden on Namibia’s healthcare system. It has challenged its capacity and triggered shortages of life-saving medications and medical equipment.”
“The Bank of Namibia has, therefore, also donated oxygen flow meters, oxygen concentrators, oxygen nasal cannulas, humidifier bottles as well as immune boosters,” said Mukasa.
Mukasa further added that the Covid-19 health challenge faced today requires a radical approach, as the scale of the challenge is too great to be left to one stakeholder.
Cooperation – not only between government institutions but with all stakeholders, including donors, the business community, civil society organisations and the entire Namibian population – cannot be overemphasised, and the bank of Namibia will continue to do its part, he stated.
“We simply cannot allow precious lives to be lost when we have the power to do something to stop the scourge. It is only together that we will win the fight against Covid-19,” he said. The bank has in total donated N$14 million to the health ministry this year, added the Mukasa.
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