PREGNANT women camping outside the Outapi District Hospital in the Omusati Region have called on Government to build an accommodation facility with toilets for them.
They are staying in their own tents or sleeping in the open while waiting to go into labour, and there are no ablution facilities.
One of the women, Wilhelmina Matheus from Omindamba near Ruacana, said this has been the case for the last 20 years.
She said they have to endure rain, wind, cold and heat, and have to relieve themselves in the bush.
In February last year the Ombalantu Traditional Authority announced that it had N$50 000 to build accommodation for the women.
Chief Oswin Mukulu of the Ombalantu Traditional Authority asked the Outapi Town Council for a plot and the council gave them the land for free to get the project off the ground.
At a ceremony then , Mukulu handed over a cheque to Outapi mayor Matthew Ndeshitila at the ground-breaking ceremony.
The women claim that the hospital management at times told them to use the toilets inside the hospital or the outpatients department, but sometimes those toilets are occupied by patients and visitors.
The women, some of them from southern Angola, said primary healthcare workers at clinics told them to stay near the Outapi District Hospital when they are near their delivery date.
Outapi chief executive officer Oswin Namakalu said the council was aware of the situation.
He said the problem was that it was not clear whose responsibility it was to take care of the women.
Namakalu said some aspects fell under the Ministry of Health and Social Services while some women felt the structure must be built by the Outapi Town Council, Omusati Regional Council, or the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare.
An advisory committee, chaired by the superintendent of the Outapi District Hospital, was subsequently set up and consists of members from different institutions, the church and the traditional authority to deal with the problem.
Namakalu said First Lady Penehupifo Pohamba had also donated money towards the construction of the facility.
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201210110796.html
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