Africa-Press – Namibia. Health minister Esperance Luvindao has ordered all regional health offices and facilities to launch regular clean-up campaigns in line with a Cabinet directive aimed at improving hygiene and public health standards in government institutions.
Speaking in Windhoek at the launch of the Ministry of Health and Social Services’ internal clean-up initiative on Monday, Luvindao stressed that the state of cleanliness in health facilities directly affects public trust and patient health.
The campaign, according to the minister, is part of a national call by Cabinet for all government bodies to implement immediate and ongoing sanitation drives.
“Last week, Cabinet directed that all government offices, ministries, and agencies immediately conduct clean-up campaigns as an initiative aimed at promoting cleanliness, hygiene and an overall pleasant environment at our offices and health facilities,” she said.
The minister noted that while the initial plan was to start with a local hospital, she chose to begin at the ministry’s headquarters to set an example.
Citing the common saying “charity begins at home,” she said workspaces should reflect the same standards expected of public facilities.
Luvindao stressed that beyond appearances, unsanitary environments put lives at risk and damage the reputation of the health sector. She acknowledged frequent public complaints about unhygienic conditions, including leaking sewage and poor sanitation in clinics and hospitals.
“Often when patients visit our health facilities, they complain about the lack of cleanliness, leaking sewage, the lack of awareness to practice proper hygiene, to mention a few. These kinds of complaints give us a bad reputation,” she stated.
She further encouraged all employees and community members to treat cleanliness as a shared responsibility.
The national campaign will include joint clean-up activities every six months, but staff are urged to adopt cleanliness into their daily routines.
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