Hospital's sponsored vegetable garden neglected
Gardeners appointed on 25 July to revive veggie garden
The Keetmanshoop Hospital is reportedly also experiencing irrigation disruptions due to dilapidated and broken water supply infrastructure.
A vegetable garden at the Keetmanshoop Hospital, which was sponsored by the Spanish embassy 11 years ago, has reportedly been deteriorating because no one was not appointed to maintain it, the health and social services ministry said in response to enquiries.
According to the ministry, the vegetable garden is primarily for patients, especially those with tuberculosis (TB) and HIV, as a lack of food is believed to be the main reason why patients do not take their medication.
"In addition, the crops harvested are given to patients, enabling them to sell the produce to buy hygiene products or for team-building activities for the teen club," the ministry's executive director, Ben Nangombe, said earlier this week.
The vegetable garden was opened in March 2013 by Bernadus Swartbooi when he still served as governor of the ǁKaras Region, and according to the ministry, it last produced vegetables in January this year.
“There are also other issues with water supply, as old water pipes and a burst water tank pipe that supplied water to the garden have disrupted irrigation,” the ministry noted.
The ministry said on 25 July of this year, a team was appointed to maintain the garden.
Hospital woes
In addition to the garden's decline, a reader told Namibian Sun's sister publication, Republikein, that the hospital building is also allegedly "falling apart."
“The hospital is now 47 years old, and much of its infrastructure is deteriorating. Maintaining such an old and dilapidated structure is a significant challenge,” Nangombe said.
He also explained that there is limited space for critical services such as emergency and outpatient departments.
Nangombe said renovations are currently being carried out on parts of the hospital's third floor and dialysis unit. He mentioned that there are also long-term plans to refurbish the hospital.
According to Nangombe, 200 outpatients receive medical care daily, while the hospital has 160 beds.
He also noted that a shortage of staff, insufficient medical supplies and limited resources hinder service delivery at the hospital.
Additionally, he explained that keeping the hospital's fleet, including its ambulances, in working condition is another challenge.
According to the ministry, the vegetable garden is primarily for patients, especially those with tuberculosis (TB) and HIV, as a lack of food is believed to be the main reason why patients do not take their medication.
"In addition, the crops harvested are given to patients, enabling them to sell the produce to buy hygiene products or for team-building activities for the teen club," the ministry's executive director, Ben Nangombe, said earlier this week.
The vegetable garden was opened in March 2013 by Bernadus Swartbooi when he still served as governor of the ǁKaras Region, and according to the ministry, it last produced vegetables in January this year.
“There are also other issues with water supply, as old water pipes and a burst water tank pipe that supplied water to the garden have disrupted irrigation,” the ministry noted.
The ministry said on 25 July of this year, a team was appointed to maintain the garden.
Hospital woes
In addition to the garden's decline, a reader told Namibian Sun's sister publication, Republikein, that the hospital building is also allegedly "falling apart."
“The hospital is now 47 years old, and much of its infrastructure is deteriorating. Maintaining such an old and dilapidated structure is a significant challenge,” Nangombe said.
He also explained that there is limited space for critical services such as emergency and outpatient departments.
Nangombe said renovations are currently being carried out on parts of the hospital's third floor and dialysis unit. He mentioned that there are also long-term plans to refurbish the hospital.
According to Nangombe, 200 outpatients receive medical care daily, while the hospital has 160 beds.
He also noted that a shortage of staff, insufficient medical supplies and limited resources hinder service delivery at the hospital.
Additionally, he explained that keeping the hospital's fleet, including its ambulances, in working condition is another challenge.
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