Reagan Malumo
16 September 2008
US Ambassador to Namibia, Dennise Mathieu, visited the Caprivi Region last Friday and held talks with the Regional Governor Leonard Mwilima.
While in the region, she also undertook a tour to familiarise herself with projects being undertaken by the US government as well as assess development and social challenges and achievements in the region.
During her trip, she was briefed about areas of concern.
After the visit, she will identify areas of investment particularly in the fields of agriculture and tourism, she told members of the media at a briefing.
Welcoming the ambassador to the region, Mwilima stressed that Caprivi was open for tourism and agricultural investments and called on American investors to utilise the potential in the region.
Mathieu also paid a visit to the Masubia Tribal Chief Kisco Liswani III at his Tribal Headquarters at Bukalo and was expected to visit three other traditional authorities before visiting American Peace Corps stationed in the region.
Meanwhile, during her discussion with Chief Liswani III, Mathieu said her interest was to find out about the region's potential in areas of tourism and agriculture so as to explore how her country could assist Namibia. She was also interested to find out how traditional authorities in the region were ready to accommodate investors and how conservancies assist communities to benefit from their own wildlife.
Chief Liswani III told the ambassador that his community has utilised the opportunity to benefit from conservancies and that so far, the conservancy at Kasika has managed to raise about N$200000. He said his community needs a clinic. He also wanted the US government to assist with the use of floodwater for irrigation.
Liswani III applauded the US government for assisting the country in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic. He also stressed that his subjects need to be assisted to erect a farm that will help to feed the HIV infected people as well as orphans and vulnerable children. Another project that the chief identified was the construction of latrines to cater for the old pensioners at Bukalo as well as construction of houses for his senior headmen.
Mathieu expressed interest in areas of tourism and agriculture and said her country could also assist existing projects. She stressed that she will discuss all health related concerns with the ministry of health.
The US government assists Namibia mainly in areas of health through the global fund programme in which the Caprivi Region also benefits.
She also met the management of Katima Mulilo State hospitals and thereafter undertook a tour of the Katima Mulilo State Hospital to acquaint herself with the operational constraints at the institution.
During a meeting with the hospital management, acting Regional Health Director Patrick Bwalwa told the ambassador that the region faces escalating cases of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) cases, which include multi-drug resistance TB cases.
He said so far, the Katima Mulilo State Hospital has diagnosed one case of extremely drug-resistance TB. According to Bwalwa, the region needs equipment and training.
Bwalwa said infrastructure and staff shortages are major concerns. He identified annual flooding in eastern Caprivi as an obstacle to treatment of HIV/AIDS. He said only a few patients are able to access health centres during floods mainly due to transport constraints. Bwalwa said health centres in the region are far apart and that people are unable to walk long distances in order to access medication.
Meanwhile, Doctor Kanku, who is responsible for the anti-retroviral (ARV) clinic at Katima Mulilo State Hospital, stressed that unlike in the past, his section was receiving a high turnover of ARV patients. He said about 40 patients enrol for ARV treatment every week.
He said the hospital was working on decentralising and rolling out ARV treatment to rural clinics and health centres. This will cater for poor people who can't afford transport costs and food.
The ambassador was accompanied by global affairs director, John Labochelle, and political specialist, Mao Tjiroze, all from the US Embassy in Namibia.
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