By: Kelvin Chiringa
The health ministry received a donation of surgical equipment and eye test kits valued in excess of N$ 1 million from the Ohorongo Otavi Community Trust (OOCT), Ohorongo Cement and Support Ulm e.V.
This is part of the cement giant’s corporate social responsibility drive which has seen
Ohorongo Cement and Support Ulm e.V. assisting with the improvement of public health provision through sourcing medical equipment from partners in Germany.
The latest consignment of medical equipment was made possible through the German Armed Forces, and was donated to the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) to complement existing medical facilities.
The deputy minister of health and social services, Julieta Kavetuna received the assets on behalf of the ministry.
According to her, the ministry is not oblivious to the great efforts by OOCT and its partners, especially Support Ulm e.V., a German non-governmental and non-profit organisation.
“I know this is a long-term commitment that you have made, and you honored it for the past ten years. This is an indication that Ohorongo Cement and Support Ulm e.V. care about the well-being of our people. Namibia will forever be indebted to you for your efforts, especially to Prof Dr. Heinz Maier and his team,” she said.
Kavetuna indicated that a large part of the donation from the German Armed Forces will be send to intermediate hospitals in the South of the country.
Other medical equipment that was donated includes thermometers, stethoscopes, weighing scales, blood pressure machines, glucometers, home ECG devices and hospital beds.
Several smaller items complete the total donation.
The German Support Ulm e.V. in collaboration with OOCT continues to support the Namibian public health sector by donating medical equipment through a Technical Co-operation Agreement between the three parties.
The agreement seeks for opportunities and projects aimed at improving the public health infrastructure and service in Namibia.
This is primarily through the provision of medical equipment by Support Ulm e.V.
Over the past 10 years OOCT and Support Ulm e.V. donated over 800 wheelchairs, 300 hospital beds, blood pressure machines, commodes, walking frames and other much needed equipment to the public health sector in Namibia.
