02 Jun 2022

 The P309-million J.P Kavindama Primary Hospital in Shakawe is expected to open soon.

The state-of-the-art primary hospital has been named after the late former Okavango Member of Parliament, Mr Joseph Kavindama.

Okavango Sub-district Council chairperson, Mr Mpoke Karapo informed the sub-council meeting recently that  the second phase of the primary hospital that included outpatient department, accident and emergency, X-ray department, laboratory, pharmacy and maternity services would soon be opened to the public.

On other matters, Mr Karapo said the Okavango District Health Management Team (DHMT) had recorded a decrease in cases of COVID-19, with only seven cases recorded in the past month and 1 396 in the fourth quarter.

He said that a total of 6 036 COVID-19 cases had been registered to date  with 5 981 recoveries.Mr Karapo said the Okavango Sub-district had registered 49 COVID-19  related deaths to date while no fatality was registered in that quarter.

He advised the public to continue adhering to the COVID-19 protocols of frequent hand washing, sanitising, social distancing and wearing face masks in public to prevent infection.

The Okavango DHMT, he said, faced challenges of members of the public who were reluctant to come for their second and booster doses despite mobilisation and follow ups.

He therefore appealed to the councillors to help in mobilising the community members in that regard.Mr Karapo said 19 673 people had received their first dose, while 35 721 people were fully vaccinated and 15 491 people had received their booster doses.

He said that 9 165 school-going children had received their first doses and 7 233 got their second doses. As for out of school children, he said that 1 046 received the first dose while only 149 out of school children received the second dose. ENDS