Nam's State hospitals in shocking state

WINDHOEK SELMA IKELA Many State hospitals in Namibia are extremely old, with cracked walls, damaged floors and broken ceilings the order of the day. A report compiled by a Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the state of the public health sector in the country also revealed that in many State medical facilities toilets are not working, while taps are also leaking and sewage is running freely on the premises . Some buildings are more than 50 years old, while the Aranos State Hospital, which was built 60 years ago, has never been renovated. The investigation report, commissioned by President Hifikepunye Pohamba late last year, was released in parliament last week and touches on several areas including training of medical professionals, the shortage of equipment and human resources issues. Under a section dealing with, among others, the quality of public health facilities infrastructure and infrastructure maintenance, the report tackles a number of issues dealing with the general state of State medical facilities. The report indicated that some health facilities are undergoing renovations, although this is taking place at a very slow pace. It stated that most hospitals and other buildings belonging to ministry are in bad state of disrepair and that those buildings in a bad state include those used as accommodation by staff and student. In a nutshell, maintenance of health facilities is poor and worrisome. It was noted that for minor defects or even small items like replacing fused bulbs, the repair of an electric adaptor, a door handle, broken windows or a leaking tap, some health facilities wait for the Department of Works, instead of doing the repairs themselves or pay a private contractor via quotations, to carry out these repairs. According to the report the management of State facilities of all 13 regions indicated that the Department of Works has not either not performed repairs or had not done a satisfactory job. There were also no funds to carry out repairs. The report further stated that cleanliness at health facilities was a major concern. Most hospitals were dirty and unkempt. At Windhoek Central Hospital, the dirty condition of the floor of the main theatre and adjacent areas was shocking, the report said. By comparison, the cleanliness and hygiene at both Dr AB May Cancer Care Centre and the intensive care unit (ICU) at Windhoek Central Hospital were found to be comparable with private health facilities. The report also noted that clinics and health centres were found to be cleaner than hospitals. TB and psychiatric facilities The report recommended that stand alone modern psychiatric and tuberculosis hospitals should be constructed, as the current facilities in the country are inadequate. The report revealed that all district hospitals visited do not have standards rooms to house acute psychiatric patients, before they are transferred to psychiatric units. It further stated that over the past three years, six mentally ill patients committed suicide at Oshakati Psychiatric Ward by hanging themselves - taking advantage of the roof not being constructed according to psychiatric unit specification. There is a dire need for the ministry to address the psychiatric health services in the country. A cadre of specialised nurses is needed in psychiatric facilities and in selected health facilities across the country. The idea would be to avoid institutionalisation of many patients, but to instead promote community-based mental care, the report said. The report recommended the establishment TB wards with the capacity to handle Drug Resistant TB. These wards should have modern isolation facilities be built with appropriate infection control features, including airflow mechanisms. Each hospital in the country should have a ward for looking after ordinary TB patients, who may need admission for any reason. Maternity wards According the report, maternity wards are very small in some State facilities, for example at Oshakati State Hospital. Some patients sleep on mattresses placed in the corridors, as the Oshakati Maternity Ward is currently being revamped. The report revealed that there is congestion at the Gobabis and Engela hospital maternity wards. The Otavi Health Centre and the Eenhana and Omaruru hospitals do not have working backup power generators. Eenhana staff is hesitant to conduct caesarean sections, because of a lack of backup power and frequent power failures were reported. Sangwali Health Centre and Chetto Clinic in Caprivi are some of the health facilities that use solar power, which was described as inadequate and staff members there resort to making use of candles if they have an emergency during the night. Oxygen Health workers at Swakopmund Hospital were concerned about oxygen supply, which they said was not reliable. They said the supplier, Intaka, does not have technical people or an office in region to look after the supply and this has led to the cancelation or transfer of theatre cases to Walvis Bay Hospital, the report said.