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Namibian press · Organization

Otjiwarongo State Hospital

Health facility in Otjozondjupa region subject to complaints over medical negligence and a medicines smuggling scheme.

2024-08-062026-08-21

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

  1. July 2026
  2. Informanté

    Otjiwarongo State Hospital allegedly had a cast applied too tightly to a child's broken arm

    Source

    A MOTHER has come forward with a harrowing account from Otjiwarongo State Hospital, alleging that her little boy's arm had to be amputated after a cast that was allegedly applied too tightly by a hospital practitioner led to nerve damage.

    Boys’ arm amputated amid claims of medical negligence at Otjiwarongo Hospital
  3. New Era

    Otjiwarongo State Hospital received and treated Ndikuhole Nakamhela for two days before she died

    Source

    He said his wife was eventually transported to Otjiwarongo, where she received treatment for two days, but unfortunately did not recover.

    Pastor narrates wife’s death after ambulance delays
  4. June 2026
  5. Windhoek Observer

    Otjiwarongo State Hospital had suspected stolen medicines allegedly found on shelves of a tuckshop in Orwetoveni suspected stolen medicines on tuckshop shelves in Orwetoveni

    Source

    A 40-year-old Congolese national was arrested in connection with the theft of suspected stolen medicines from the Otjiwarongo State Hospital, which were allegedly found on the shelves of a tuckshop in Orwetoveni on Friday.

    Congolese arrested for theft of suspected stolen state hospital medicines
  6. May 2026
  7. The Namibian

    Otjiwarongo State Hospital received the victim who subsequently died

    Source

    The victim fell to the ground and was taken to the Otjiwarongo State Hospital, where he died.

    IPC condemns alleged fatal shooting of person with mental condition
  8. March 2026
  9. Informanté

    Otjiwarongo State Hospital treated and discharged 28-year-old male pedestrian struck in reckless driving incident

    Source

    The victim was treated at Otjiwarongo State Hospital and later discharged.

    Weekend crashes leave three hurt, one in custody
  10. February 2026
  11. Informanté

    Otjiwarongo State Hospital allegedly failed to follow Emergency Response Protocol for breathing difficulties

    Source

    The family further claims that the medical personnel on duty that fateful day did not follow the Emergency Response Protocol for breathing difficulties/Emergency Protocol for Cardiac Emergencies and that the doctor on duty allegedly only tried to tend to him after he had already passed on.

    Otjiwarongo community holds protest over alleged hospital negligence
  12. January 2026
  13. New Era

    Otjiwarongo State Hospital received several minibus occupants reporting body pains

    Source

    Several other occupants of the minibus reported body pains and were taken to Otjiwarongo State Hospital.

    Woman dies in collision near Otjiwarongo
  14. November 2025
  15. The Namibian

    Otjiwarongo State Hospital was site of nursing negligence resulting in mother's serious injuries

    Source

    On 7 November, Namibia's High Court awarded damages of N$1 million to a mother who suffered serious injuries because of nursing negligence at Otjiwarongo State Hospital.

    Maternal And Newborn Health – A Legal Perspective
  16. August 2024
  17. The Namibian

    Otjiwarongo State Hospital received stabbed woman from Heroes Park, who died around 07h00

    Source

    Despite being rushed to Otjiwarongo State Hospital, the unidentified victim succumbed to her injuries around 07h00 the same day.

    Man stabbed to death over owed N$5
Society

Boy's arm amputated after tight cast at Otjiwarongo Hospital

The News

A mother has alleged that her six-year-old son's arm was amputated at Windhoek hospital following complications from a cast applied at Otjiwarongo State Hospital in April 2026. She claims the cast was applied too tightly, causing nerve damage and turning the child's arm blue, and says the hospital has not explained what led to the amputation.

16 July 2026 · Informanté

Thursday 16 July

  1. Boy's arm amputated after tight cast at Otjiwarongo Hospital

    A mother has alleged that her six-year-old son's arm was amputated at Windhoek hospital following complications from a cast applied at Otjiwarongo State Hospital in April 2026. She claims the cast was applied too tightly, causing nerve damage and turning the child's arm blue, and says the hospital has not explained what led to the amputation.

    16 July 2026 · Informanté

Thursday 9 July

  1. Reverend donates N$4m ambulance after wife's death

    A Kalkfeld widower donated an ambulance worth N$4 million after his wife died in 2024 when she missed medical appointments due to lack of ambulance availability.

    9 July 2026 · Namibian Sun

Wednesday 8 July

  1. Ambulance shortage in rural areas costs lives, pastor says

    A retired pastor in Kalkfeld recounts how the lack of an available ambulance prevented his wife from attending medical appointments in February and May 2024, leading to her condition worsening and her death in July 2024. The shortage of ambulances in rural areas continues to delay emergency response, though a new ambulance has recently arrived in Kalkfeld to provide relief.

    8 July 2026 · New Era

Tuesday 7 July

  1. Ministry plans first national air ambulance service

    Health Minister Dr Esperance Luvindao announced the ministry of health and social services is planning to establish Namibia's first dedicated national air ambulance service to improve emergency medical care and access to treatment in remote communities. The announcement accompanies plans to procure 30 additional ambulances during the 2026/27 financial year.

    7 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Monday 6 July

  1. Namport donates two ambulances to health ministry

    The Ministry of Health and Social Services received two fully equipped ambulances from the Namport Social Investment Fund, with one allocated to Kalkfeld in Otjozondjupa region and the other to an area of greatest need. Health Minister Esperance Luvindao said the donation will strengthen emergency medical services in remote communities where long distances pose challenges to healthcare delivery.

    6 July 2026 · The Namibian

Saturday 20 June

  1. Congolese national arrested over hospital medicines smuggling scheme

    A 40-year-old Congolese national was arrested in connection with suspected stolen medicines from Otjiwarongo State Hospital found on shelves of a tuckshop in Orwetoveni. Police say the arrest stemmed from a physical confrontation with a former health assistant over profit-sharing from the sale of medicines, baby formula, and diapers allegedly smuggled from the hospital.

    20 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Thursday 14 May

  1. Windhoek mental health facility admits systemic security failures

    The Ministry of Health and Social Services acknowledged systemic failures at the Windhoek Central Mental Health Centre, citing inadequate infrastructure and human resource deficits that contributed to poor supervision. The admission followed a patient escaping and a fatal police shooting incident.

    14 May 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 12 May

  1. IPC condemns fatal shooting of man with mental illness

    The Independent Patriots for Change condemned the fatal shooting of a 39-year-old man from Oshana region at Otjiwarongo, calling the killing a citizen with mental illness who needed medical attention. The party called for an independent investigation and the establishment of an independent police complaints authority, arguing police should not investigate their own conduct.

    12 May 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 2 March

  1. Three pedestrians injured in weekend traffic crashes

    Three separate incidents of alleged reckless and negligent driving in Otjiwarongo and Omulunga over the weekend left three pedestrians injured, including a two-year-old boy struck by an unlicenced driver in Grootfontein. One suspect was arrested after driving under the influence, while police investigations into all incidents continue.

    2 March 2026 · Informanté

Friday 20 February

  1. Health ministry distributes 15,000 uniforms to doctors and nurses

    Health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao handed over 15,000 newly procured uniforms for state medical doctors and nurses across the country, manufactured by August 26 Manufacturing Company at a cost of about N$56 million. The uniforms—the first issued by the government since 2014—retain the traditional colours of white coats for doctors and navy blue and white for nurses.

    20 February 2026 · New Era

Tuesday 17 February

  1. Otjiwarongo community protests hospital over patient death

    Community members from Otjiwarongo marched to the state hospital and submitted a petition demanding improved healthcare following the death of a 21-year-old man, whose family alleges he died due to medical negligence after presenting with breathing difficulties and being discharged with low oxygen levels.

    17 February 2026 · Informanté

Monday 2 February

  1. Multiple fatal road accidents across Namibia over weekend

    At least seven serious road accidents occurred across Namibia between Friday and Sunday, resulting in multiple fatalities and numerous injuries. Police reported that suspected drink-driving and mechanical failures contributed to several of the incidents.

    2 February 2026 · Informanté

Tuesday 20 January

  1. Parliamentary committee inspects health capital projects in Otjozondjupa

    A 15-member Parliamentary Standing Committee on Gender Equality and Social Services commenced visits to capital projects initiated by the Ministry of Health and Social Services in Otjozondjupa region. The committee is conducting oversight and evaluation of the projects, following reports from the regional governor that many health infrastructure projects in the region remain dormant, incomplete, or non-functional despite multi-year budgeting.

    20 January 2026 · New Era

Thursday 8 January

  1. Woman dies in minibus collision near Otjiwarongo

    A 24-year-old woman died instantly on Monday night in a collision between a minibus and a sedan on the Otjiwarongo–Okahandja B1 road, about 15 kilometres south of Otjiwarongo. The minibus driver lost control and the vehicle overturned several times; one other occupant was seriously injured.

    8 January 2026 · New Era

Otjiwarongo State Hospital — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute