Urgent Action Needed on Hospital Failures, Disease Outbreaks, and Child Malnutrition
Namibia cannot normalise situations where citizens suffer or lose their lives because basic healthcare services are unavailable when needed most. Critical infrastructure failures and systemic breakdowns across our regions require immediate, transparent intervention from the Ministry of Health and Social Services.
Recent developments expose severe vulnerabilities in public health delivery across multiple regions:
Mariental District Hospital Oxygen Failure: The oxygen-generation plant has been non-operational since 30 July 2026, forcing reliance on cylinders. Tragic reports indicate that patients with asthma and respiratory conditions have died in circumstances where oxygen was unavailable. Clear answers are demanded regarding patient transfers and fatalities.
Zambezi Region Diarrhoeal Crisis: Recorded diarrhoea cases surged dramatically from 1,146 to 6,960 between 24 and 30 August 2026, resulting in 255 hospital admissions and the tragic loss of 12 children under five years old this year. Poor sanitation, unsafe water storage, and low rotavirus vaccination coverage remain core drivers.
Witvlei Clinic Malnutrition Concerns: Reports of child malnutrition highlight deep-seated food insecurity and poverty. Accurate data collection and dedicated nutritional support are urgently required.
Official acknowledgements of breakdowns must be matched with measurable results and fully functional facilities in every region. The IPC will maintain continuous parliamentary oversight until accountability and reliable lifesaving healthcare are fully restored.
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