Thursday, November 22, 2018

AB InBev Namibia Donates Funds to Lady Pohamba Maternity Shelter
By Southern Times
November 21, 2018
Sharon Kavhu

Windhoek - The AB InBev Namibia, through its Omaheke Trust Foundation, donated R300,000 to the Lady Pohamba maternal shelter towards the construction of maternity homes last week Friday, November 16.

The donation was made during the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a ‘guardhouse’ and related areas at the Lady Pohamba maternal health facility in Gobabis.

In a statement, AB InBev Namibia highlighted that the donation is a contribution to the construction of maternity homes, which fall under the World Health Organisation’s programme, to accelerate the reduction of child mortality as well as improving maternal and child health care.

AB InBev Namibia Head of Legal and Corporate Affairs, Maija-Lisa Hangala, said the construction of the guardhouse at the Lady Pohamba Maternity Shelter is a project identified through the ABI Namibia Omaheke Trust and a platform from which to assess all threats to the facility prior to them happening.

“The construction and rehabilitation of these facilities is a partnership between government, the private sector and this community. It is in this partnership context that we are appealing to you as leaders of this community to please take care of these facilities. These are investments that will stand the test of time and further help to support the sustainability and development of the Omaheke region and the country at large,” Hangala said.

Governor of Omaheke Region, Festus Ueitele has hailed the development saying that there is a need for continued public-private partnership engagement and support.

“The importance of private sector involvement can never be over emphasised. Government alone cannot attend to the needs of all our people. The needs of our people are multiple and as such the public sector, government and private sector need to harness their energy and collaborate their efforts to bring about socio-economic development for those in need. Today we are excited to witness the site hand over to the contractor and the ground-breaking ceremony,” the governor said.

Ueitele then challenged the leadership of the Lady Pohamba Maternity waiting shelter and the matron to initiate a programme to grow fresh produce on the available space at the centre, which could be used to supplement the dietary needs of patrons at the shelter.

This partnership between AB InBev Namibia and the Omaheke Regional Council provides an opportunity to play a more active role in improving the wellbeing of members of the society. Since the opening of the initial phase of the centre in February this year, over 115 mothers have received care through the centre.

The Lady Pohamba Maternity waiting home in Gobabis was constructed to help improve maternal and child health by ensuring that the expecting mothers have access to safe obstetric services and by preventing pregnancy and labour-related complications that could lead to maternal and neonatal deaths.

According to Jermia Shikulo, Director of Health in the Omaheke Region, the facility accommodates pregnant mothers that are coming from afar, who do not have accommodation close to the health services thus reducing associated maternal child-bearing risks.

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