Expectant mothers in the Kunene region will soon be able to have better access to safe delivery services. The Opuwo Town Council signed a contract with Hauseb Construction JV Ya Kandundu Investments on 28 September 2017 for the construction of the Maternity Waiting Home.  The contract signing was followed by the handing over of the site to the contractor for works to commence and the much awaited Maternity Waiting Home will be completed in February 2018. 

The  Maternity Waiting Home is part of the  European Union supported Programme for Accelerating the Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality in Namibia (PARMaCM),  which was  extended to February 2018 to accommodate the construction of the  Home in Opuwo.

Kunene region has the highest rates of teenage pregnancies and the lowest rates of delivery at health facilities.  The Maternity Waiting Home will allow expectant mothers to be close to the District Hospital  in Opuwo nearing their delivery date. 

During a recent visit to Opuwo to inspect the land allocated by the Town Council, the WHO Representative expressed his gratitude to the European Union for funding the construction of the home, and also thanked the Governor, and the Mayor of Opuwo Town Council for availing the land.

“The partnership between EU, WHO and the Ministry of Health and Social Services cannot be over -emphasized in making this project a success, I would therefore like to express my deepest appreciation to the Minister and his team for their tireless effort in this process”    Dr Sagoe-Moses said. 

Through the EU’s financial support, the PARMaCM project in the initial four years of implementation, has contributed significantly towards the improvement of maternal and child health services. These include the procurement and distribution of medical equipment worth N$34 million to hospitals, health centers and clinics to upgrade maternal and child care services; construction of Maternity Waiting Homes worth N$8.5 million, donation of 9 ambulances and 6 utility vehicles worth N$ 14.6 Million; and capacity building of health workers including doctors, nurses, health extension workers to improve the health of women and children.