The Namibian (Windhoek)
Denver Isaacs
6 July 2009
PATIENTS at Windhoek's two state hospitals had to do without food for most of Thursday, after the contracted catering company Roynam Caterers apparently dropped the ball in keeping the kitchen stocked.
It is understood that the Ministry of Health and Social Services had to make due with a contingency plan, contacting food suppliers themselves in an effort to have dinner and the next day's breakfast organised.
Asked about the situation on Friday, ministry spokesperson Gladys Kamboo acknowledged the food shortage, but referred the newspaper to Roynam.
"They have a legally binding contract, is what I can tell you. But the patients have food," she said.
Attempts to gain comment from Roynam managent were unsuccessful over the weekend.
Staff spoken to at the company's offices in the Windhoek Central Hospital, maintained only that the patients had eaten - thereby denying any existing trouble.
It is understood however that a meeting is to be held between the ministry and Roynam today to discuss the matter.
Roynam's last contract with the ministry was due to expire last Tuesday, on June 30.
It is understood that this contract has since been renewed.
In December, a number of Roynam employees complained about having to veer from the hospitals' agreed menus, after suppliers stopped supplying food to the catering company on credit.
A number of suppliers who spoke to The Namibian on condition of anonymity acknowledged then that they were only supplying food to the company on a cash basis.
Following those reports, Roynam chairperson Titus Haimbili called a press conference in which he primarily blamed tax hikes for raising the price of food even though this was not accompanied by a hike in the government's contract with the company at the time.
In March, Roynam made news headlines again when the company failed to pay workers on time.
Workers claimed that this had become a regular feature come month-end.
The company has blamed much of the bad publicity on competing catering companies trying to ruin their reputation.
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