Sinimbo leads Rupara Maternity Ward Clinic site visit

NKURENKURU, 07 JUN (NAMPA) - Governor of the Kavango West Region, Verna Sinimbo, along with a delegation from the Kavango West Regional Council and the Ministry of Health and Social Services, conducted a site visit on Friday to assess progress and challenges in the construction of the Rupara Maternity Ward Clinic.
The visit took place in Musese Constituency, Kavango West Region, and included representatives from the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN).
Due to procurement processes and budget overruns from the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the project currently stands at 60 percent completion.
DBN’s initial N.dollar 1 million commitment is nearly exhausted, with only N.dollar 180 000 remaining.
This critical infrastructure project forms part of DBN’s broader Social Responsibility Programme, aimed at enhancing health service delivery in underserved regions. Kavango West is among the key beneficiaries of this initiative, reflecting the Bank’s commitment to equitable regional development.
During a briefing session held after the site inspection, Sinimbo expressed sincere appreciation to the Development Bank of Namibia for prioritising Kavango West in its national development efforts.
“This maternity ward is not just a building; it represents hope, access to healthcare and dignity for the women and children of our region,” said Sinimbo.
Echoing these sentiments, DBN’s Chief Executive for Marketing and Corporate Communication, Jerome Mutumba, thanked the Governor and her delegation for their time and engagement, saying that collaboration from both parties is key to ensuring impactful outcomes for the community.
“This project was scheduled to be handed over in April last year, but the project has experienced delays due to unforeseen circumstances, and the purpose of this meeting is to address those challenges and to know what is required from us, because this is beginning to become more of a reputational risk for the bank having an incomplete project which has a DBN signature on it, and we are not able to account to explain what is happening,” said Mutumba.
The maternity ward remains incomplete, pending additional funding. The Ministry of Health and Social Services is expected to provide the remaining financial support needed to bring the project to full completion.
Despite the delay, the Rupara Maternity Ward remains a beacon of progress and a strong example of how partnerships between public institutions and development finance entities can transform lives. Once completed, the facility will significantly enhance maternal health services in the Musese Constituency and surrounding areas.
(NAMPA)
JLN/HP