The US$3mn tuberculosis ward at the Keetmanshoop District Hospital in Namibia will be complete in May 2014, according to reports
The project is part of the Targeted Intervention Programme for Employment and Economic Growth (TIPEEG) funded by government through the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS).
Jacques Connan, site agent of QE Civil and Building Contractors said construction is well underway despite minor hiccups. "We are only behind with the sewage system because of the hardness of the ground, but we should be done with it soon." Building supplies are being reportedly being delivered on time but authorities are struggling to find good quality toilet pots.
According to Dr Mehluli Ndlovu, principal medical officer (PMO) of Keetmanshoop Health District, the building would be able to separate tuberculosis (TB) patients from others and mitigate cross infections of TB. "This specific ward will be mainly for the drug resistant TB, which is very difficult to handle when patients are not separated from other patients. Once construction is complete, we would be having a specialised facility with trained staff," he added.
The building would have a waiting area, accommodation rooms for patients, a pharmacy, kitchen, gymnasium and laundry room, as well as a courtyard for patients who are admitted for long periods of time.
