The Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) has provided funding to Dr Vincent Kambinda of MedRundu Health Centre to set up his practice, contributing to an increase in the number of health facilities available in Rundu.
Rundu and its surrounding areas form the second largest Namibian population centre, with a populace estimated to be in excess of 90,000, served by only sixteen general practitioners, one state hospital and one private hospital.
DBN Head of Marketing and Corporate Communication, Jerome Mutumba said the funding which was used towards financing equipment, supplies and working capital for the health facility, significantly alleviates pressure on the pool of medical skills available in the region.
“The relatively few service providers and doctors, places residents of Rundu at a disadvantage in terms of the World Health Organisation recommended norm of one doctor per 1,000 head of population,” he said.
The DBN has a long history of financing medical facilities and professionals, including several pharmacies and two providers of radiological and diagnostic services at Ongwediva Medipark being beneficiaries, with one having been funded under the Bank’s Innovation Fund.
He said the Bank’s deliberate policy of funding young professionals is aimed at providing business and social services that foster sound socio-economic and enterprise environment.
“Young professionals are nurtured financially by the Bank with the expectation that they will form part of the future pool of entrepreneurs to come. Their earnings are also the basis for future investments in the economy,” Mutumba said.
“On the one side, the Bank empowers youths venturing into entrepreneurship. On the other side, the Bank and the nation receive exceptional development impact for every dollar invested.”
