Healthcare access for all

At Omukwiyu in the Oshikoto Region’s Okapya village, a team of medical doctors gather to deliver medical services to residents and those from neighbouring communities.The outreach is conducted through the Paulia Caring Foundation, which was officially launched on 8 October.They treat those who could be receiving healthcare at Ondangwa and at the Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital, which has three health centres - Onayena, Okankolo and Onyaanya. It also has eight clinics under its jurisdiction.Foundation founder Dr Penehafo Kamati said she was born and bred in this village.“The right to health is eluding the poor and people trying to lift themselves out of poverty are being crushed by the unacceptably high costs of healthcare.”She said in the past, most people in rural and remote areas had difficulty accessing these services due to the long distances to hospitals or health centres, and the high cost of travel.Although progress has been made, Kamati opined that “publicly financed healthcare is the greatest equaliser in society”.Right to healthGrowing up in Okapya, she has seen a lot of young girls drop out of school due to teenage pregnancies as well as young adults having multiple children with different partners, she said.“When proper health education and care is not given, it is poor people and people on the margins of society, especially women and girls, who lose their right to health first, and they have to bear the burden of caring for their families.”Kamati is joined by three other doctors and just over 10 intern doctors and nurses on this outreach. Their next stop is the Ohangwena Region, but the date for this trip has yet to be announced.Meeting govt halfwaySaara Johannes beams with excitement when she looks at Kamati and her team.She said she was on her way to Ondangwa to take her four-month-old baby for a check-up and her private doctor informed her that there was an outreach in her area she should go there instead.“This is the best idea because they are meeting government halfway. I take off my hat to them,” she said.On the day, Johannes (32) also managed to get a contraceptive implant, which she said is currently unavailable at state hospitals. She has been trying to get back on family planning since the birth of her baby, she added.“The implant has always been desired family planning method because it is once-off and I don’t need to do follow-ups. Only when its time to remove it.”Singing praisesApart from medical care, Kamati and her team also handed over food parcels, nappies for babies and adult diapers as well as free medication, which includes hypertension and diabetes meds.The people come out in numbers and not even the scorching sun could stop them.They sing praises for Kamati and dance for the medical team.– tuyeimo@namibiansun.com

Healthcare access for all

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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Healthcare access for all

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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