AB InBev Namibia through their Omaheke Trust Foundation, on Friday 16 November 2018, donated N$ 300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand) at a ground-breaking ceremony to the Governor of Omaheke Region, Hon Festus T. Ueitele for the construction of a ‘Guard house’ and related areas at the Lady Pohamba Maternal Health facility in Gobabis.
The construction of such maternity homes falls under the World Health Organisation’s Programme in the acceleration of reduction of child mortality (PARMC) which seeks to improve maternal and child health while addressing the delays identified as the drivers of maternal and child mortality.
The Lady Pohamba Maternity waiting home in Gobabis was constructed to help improve Maternal and Child Health by ensuring 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 a far off who don’t have accommodation close to the health services thus reducing associated maternal child bearing risks.
AB InBev Namibia through their ‘Better World’ strategy and Trust Foundations envisions a world where everyone within the communities in which AB InBev operates, has the opportunity to have an improved standard of living. In 2016, AB InBev Namibia Omaheke Trust sponsored the rehabilitation of the Wenni du Plessis Vocational Technical Block E to support vocational education in Namibia.
That, combined with this sponsorship to construct a Guard House which is part of the second phase of the construction of Maternity Waiting Home is testament to the fact that AB InBev Namibia is committed to the welfare of the people in the communities where they operate.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ms. Maija-Lisa Hangala, Head of Legal & Corporate Affairs at AB InBev Namibia said, “The construction of the guard house at Lady Pohamba Maternity Shelter is a Fund Project identified through the ABI Namibia Omaheke Trust and a platform from which to assess all threats to the facility prior to them happening.”
She added that, AB InBev’s direct investment in Namibia such as their brewery which is fully operational in Okahandja is a sign of their commitment to be part and parcel of the development and fabric of Namibian society. “The construction and rehabilitation of these facilities is a partnership between government, 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” she remarked.
Commenting on the need for continued Public Private Partnership engagement and support, the Governor of Omaheke Region, Hon Festus T. Ueitele thanked AB InBev Namibia for their milestone contribution towards the total completion of the Lady
Pohamba Maternity waiting shelter, and called on other stakeholders to engage and work towards the successful completion of the various phases of the center.
“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 energies and collaborate their efforts to bring about socieconomic development for those in need. Today we are excited to witness the sitehand over to the contractor and the ground breaking ceremony” the Governor said.
He 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 center 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 member of the society. Since the opening of the initial phase of the center in Feb 2018 over 115 mothers have received care through the center.