New Era

Rundu gets N$53m maternity ward

- ■ John Muyamba – jmuyamba@nepc.com.na

RUNDU – The long- awaited refurbishm­ent of the maternity ward at the Rundu Intermedia­te Hospital has finally been completed after constructi­on started six years ago.

Expectant mothers at times had to endure sleeping on the floor and corridors of the maternity ward due to a lack of space.

This will be a thing of the past now as government availed N$53.7 million towards the constructi­on of the maternity ward.

“The maternity ward that I commission today was conceived and built with the aim to address the challenge of limited space in caring for mothers to deliver their babies in a safe and conducive environmen­t, where they are able to receive the care that they need,” said health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula during Friday’s inaugurati­on.

“This facility has added to the capacity of this hospital to provide care for delivering mothers. It will also go a long way in reducing maternal and new born mortalitie­s.”

The new maternity ward comprises of several components which include a theatre, postnatal and antenatal wards, neonatal unit, isolation unit, mother’s lodges, offices and consulting rooms.

The contract for the upgrading and extension of the ward was initially valued at

N$44.8 million when it was awarded to the contractor. The site handover ceremony took place on the 9 April 2014 and the original practical completion was set for 22 July 2015.

However, the contract had to be extended due to technical and financial constraint­s.

“By April 2016, the project was still not complete. The ministry was informed by the project quantity surveyor that the funds remaining on the budgetted amount were insufficie­nt to complete the outstandin­g works,” Shangula said.

According to Shangula, the amount required additional­ly to bring the project to completion during the last halt was estimated at N$8.9 million which increased the contract amount to N$53.7million.

“In order to bring the works to practical completion, the ministry held meetings with the contractor and the appointed consulting engineers in April 2017 and June 2017 respective­ly. This resulted in a negotiated all-inclusive adjusted contract amount to be submitted to the ministry,” he said.

In September this year, the contractor was able to complete the project.

“I wish to emphasise that access to health facilities and outreach services remains the core for health service delivery. The ministry and government at large remain committed to the developmen­t and expansion of health facilities and services in all parts of the country,” Shangula noted.

Shangula further said the ministry will prioritise and accelerate the completion of several capital projects that have been delayed for a number of years.

Other delayed projects around the country include, the Nkurenkuru clinic and Gcaruhwa clinic, Shamaturu clinic, Linyanti clinic, Epupa clinic, Schlip clinic, Aranos health centre accommodat­ion, Okahao hospital outpatient department, Keetmansho­op TB ward and Okahandja hospital outpatient department, Okakarara hospital laundry and kitchen, St. Mary’s hospital laboratory, Katutura hospital pharmacy and Onandjokwe maternity ward.

“I am pleased to report that decisive steps have already been taken and contractor­s have returned to site or new contractor­s appointed to complete outstandin­g works at several of these projects,” he said.

The health minister also informed the event that the ministry will soon receive six aediatric specialist­s who recently completed their studies abroad and Rundu would benefit from them as soon as their re-deployment to public health facilities around the country is affected.

 ?? Photo: John Muyamba ?? Finally… Health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula at the new maternity ward with governor Bonifatius Wakudumo and councillor Victoria Kauma.
Photo: John Muyamba Finally… Health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula at the new maternity ward with governor Bonifatius Wakudumo and councillor Victoria Kauma.

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