About the region
Oshana region is situated in the centre of the northwest and shares borders with the following regions: Oshikoto to the east, Omusati to the south and west Ohangwena to the north. It is the smallest region with 5290 km 2. It comprises of three towns Oshakati, Ongwediva and Ondangwa. Separate municipal councils govern each town. The climatic conditions is seasonal with temperature dropping down to 0º C during wintertime. There are large swamps that hold water for all year round called Oshanas in local Language. It is a land locked region with no permanent water bodies such as rivers.  

Thepopulation of Oshana region is 167, 797 people, (National Housing census, 2001). The rate at which the regions human population grows is influenced by pull factors such as increasing business opportunities in the region.

Population breakdown of important age groups:

Under one year:504
Under 5 years: 25,169
Women of childbearing age: 40,271
Disabled people: 5,207
Aged poeple: 11,578

The region comprises of three fast growing towns, where many companies and industries have sprung up, influencing people to migrate from rural to these urban areas. As a result employment opportunities are high as compared with neighboring regions. The rural community relies on subsistence agriculture and rear livestock that includes, cattle farming and small business enterprises. The means of communication throughout the region include two ways radio communication, telephones and Namibia Broadcasting Corporation Services (NBC) and public telephone system available only at some areas. The majority (80%) of the community has access to public transport, however the remainder 20% have some difficulties reaching a nearby health facility either due to the distances or impassable roads caused by water during the rain season.

Quick Links on this page: Objectives | Main Output Areas | Structure

OBJECTIVES

• To ensure efficient regional management
• To improve quality of health services in all hospitals
• To provide quality primary health care service
• To improve developmental social welfare services

MAIN OUTPUT AREAS

• General and Functional Management
• Developmental Social Welfare Services
• Public Health Services
• Hospital Services

Finance and Social Accounts

• Human Resource Management
• Office and General Services
• Logistics and Facility management

Public & Environmental Health
The division is headed by a Control Environmental Health Officer at regional level. The division is responsible for uplifting public health standards including the following

• Port Health
• Sanitation
• Vector borne disease control
• Public hygiene and Environmental pollution control
• Occupational Health and safety
• Infectious disease control
• Food hygiene and hygiene

Family Health Services
The division Family Health is headed by a Chief Health Program Administrator. It is responsible for the following functions:

• Expanded Program for Immunization (EPI), including National Immunization Days (NIDS)
• Integrated Management of Child Illnesses (IMCI)
• Cancer Prevention and control of non-communicable diseases
• Reproductive Health
• Food and nutrition programs
• Community Based Health Care (CBHC)
• Oral health and dental services
• School Health Services

Rehabilitation & Social Welfare Services
This division is divided into two subdivisions:

• Physiotherapy
• Orthopedic Technical services
• Provision of Prosthesis and Hearing Aids
• Community Rehabilitation programs
• Disability screening in Schools

Social Welfare.
The most prominent services offered by this subsection are as follows:

• Promotion of human security and prevention of Social Problems
• Provision of Social Welfare Services (Case work, Child care and protection including vulnerable children)
• Substance abuse prevention and rehabilitation
• Mental Health
• Support of people living with AIDS
• Medical Social Work
• Provision of Social Allowances and Support
• Monitoring Through Social Welfare Information System (SWIS)

District Health and Social Welfare Services (Oshakati)
Offers the following services

• Curative services
• Primary Health care clinics
• Outreach services
• Nursing services
• Pharmaceutical services
• Radiographic services
• Eye care unit
• Laboratory services
• Inpatient and out patient services
• Ambulance and emergency services
• Mortuary and medical Forensics

Curative Services
The division is responsible for the provision of nursing, pharmaceutical and dental services.

Special Disease program
The special disease program deals with the following programs:

• HIV/AIDS
• Tuberculosis (TB)
• Malaria

Multi - regional information system
It is responsible for repairing and planned preventive maintenance of medical equipment for three directorates.

Multi - regional technical services
Responsible for information technology management such as telephone systems, computers, e- mail and Internet services for three directorates.

District health and social welfare services x 1: Oshakati
This division is responsible for the co-ordination, management and implementation of activities at the district level, which includes all the activities run by clinics, health center and the district hospital.

Click here to view or download the district map. 

Multi - Regional Depot
This division is responsible for provision of pharmaceutical supplies to specified regions.

Division: Intermediate hospital
This division performs general hospital activities and it also serves as referral and as specialized hospital.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE FACILITIES

The region has15 health facilities: One Intermediate Hospital with a capacity of 750 beds, 4 health centres and 10 clinics. There are 28 outreach points, which are frequently visited by the mobile District Primary Health Care Team. Private and mission health facilities are all 31 in number. There is one Women and Child Care Centre situated in Oshakati Intermediate hospital.