Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT Hage Geingob called upon all citizens to take active measures to promote road safety as Namibia grapples with a significant burden of road traffic injuries and fatalities.
“We must bring to an end the bloodbaths that our national roads have become, especially during the holiday seasons. Precious lives are lost unnecessarily because drivers and road users refuse to adhere to regulations. The harmful use of alcohol leads to violence and destruction of families. These injuries and deaths are preventable. Leaders at all levels (in the government, in the communities, and in academia) must promote the message of personal responsibility for our people to change course,” he said.
The President made these remarks during the inauguration of the newly-renovated Emergency Unit at Katutura Intermediate Hospital. This renovation was made possible through a partnership between the government, Standard Bank, and the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund – a collaboration that the President hailed as a shining example of the Harambee spirit.
“I commend Standard Bank and the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund for heeding the call of Government to renovate the Emergency Unit of Intermediate Hospital Katutura, under the aegis of public-private partnerships, giving Namibia a state-of-the-art facility, deserving of our people. With the completion of this project, two pillars of the Harambee Prosperity Plan 2 are being addressed, namely Pillar 3–Social Progression – which speaks to improving the quality of life for all Namibians and especially vulnerable members of our country in accessing quality public healthcare as well as Pillar 4, which speaks to infrastructure development,” he elaborated.
The President emphasized that the Katutura Intermediate Hospital’s Emergency Unit is the most active medical facility in the country, often receiving referrals from other medical institutions and treating individuals injured in motor vehicle accidents.
“In order for our health system to effectively deal with emergency medical situations, we need to have the necessary infrastructure in place. That is the essence of the renovation and modernization of this facility. This facility, the busiest in the country, handles different types of trauma occasioned by different causes and situations,” he said.
Although the Emergency Unit at Katutura Intermediate Hospital is now better equipped to assist patients, the President underscored the importance of focusing on injury prevention, particularly concerning road accidents.
Leave a Reply