Executive Director in the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Ben Nangombe has urged pregnant women to seek health services during their pregnancies to ensure healthy births.
Nangombe who was speaking at the handover of the emergency Maternity Shelter at the Otjimbingwe Clinic on Tuesday noted that a delay in seeking medical assistance is a major contributing factor to most maternal deaths.
The facility was donated by Lepidico Chemicals Namibia, a lithium processing company based in Karibib.
“For the longest time, this facility was without enough space for emergency deliveries and resuscitation of new-borns before referring to the Usakos District Hospital, which is about 60 kilometres away,” Nangombe revealed.
“Transporting patients for emergency deliveries from here to Usakos is challenging with high risk of deliveries happening on the way, sometimes at night with potential complications such as bleeding, retained placenta, birth asphyxia and infections.”
Nangombe noted that the Otjimbingwe clinic is the second busiest in the area, therefore the facility will go a long way in contributing significantly to the reduction of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in the area and country at large.
He further expressed gratitude towards Lepidico Chemicals Namibia for partnering with the ministry in ensuring the community is supported through the best health services.
The N.dollars 700 000 facility contains a delivery bed with an examination lamp, two patient monitoring beds, a sluice and a toilet as well as a wheelchair.
It is connected to the clinic building to facilitate easy movement of staff and supplies.
Erongo Governor Neville Andre Itope at the same event stressed that the initiative will go a long way to support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5, and inspired other stakeholders and private companies to do the same in their communities.
“Knowing that the majority of our people depend on Government health services when they are unwell, many mothers' and babies’ lives will be made better through this facility,” he stated.
Lepidico LTD Managing Director Joe Walsh noted that their collaboration with the MoHSS and the community is only the beginning of the company’s way of showing appreciation for its operations in the area, adding they intend on strengthening the relations as time goes on.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency