Mining corporate giant Rössing Uranium came to the aid of the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MHSS) with a donation of a 54-seater bus for the Erongo Region. The donation is aimed to relieve a limping transportation headache, with patients often struggling to get specialised medical attention outside the Erongo region due to a limited number of vehicles.
During the handover, the mine’s Managing Director, Johan Coetzee, also announced that the donation comes with a commitment to carry out services and maintenance of the bus for the next two years, bringing the value of the donation to N$1.5 million.
Coetzee stressed that an operational health care system is fundamental for a functional society. He said in this time and era, government cannot do it alone, which leaves a vacuum for corporate Namibia to fill and act as ethical, compassionate and forward-thinking corporates.
“For Rössing Uranium, supporting the health sector is not charity. It is an investment in our communities, its’ people, and the dignity of the people. Today’s gesture represents our commitment to the community to ensure that access to healthcare should never be limited by distance or difficulty. This bus is our way of supporting the region’s health care facilities in its tireless mission to serve all who walk through its doors, regardless of their background or circumstance.”
Minister of Health and Social Services Dr. Esperance Luvindao received the donation with gratitude, thanking Rössing Uranium for the noble investment and highlighted the increasing demands on the health system due to a growing population.
“While the ministry has been proactive in bolstering staff and recruiting clinicians including specialised medical doctors to meet these demands, the need for reliable patient transportation remains paramount. Many patients require specialised services not available within the region, necessitating transfers to other healthcare facilities,” said Luvindao.
She further stated: “this donation by Rössing Uranium will not only provide much-needed comfort to our patients during what can be a stressful and challenging time, but it will also significantly reduce transportation costs for the ministry by consolidating patient transfers, removing the need for multiple vehicles making the same journey. Imagine a patient, weakened by illness, no longer having to endure a cramped and uncomfortable ride in a small vehicle. Instead, they can travel in a spacious, climate-controlled environment, with room to recline and relax, reducing anxiety and physical strain.”
This donation to the health ministry by Rössing Uranium highlighted the mine’s continued efforts to making long-term investments into the community. Earlier this year, Rössing donated N$1.25 million to MHSS for the upgrade of health infrastructure in the towns of Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Usakos.
Contributed by Rössing Uranium
