“Smith-Howard magic” added to Covid-19 fight

Eileen van der Schyff

Henties Bay’s community is hit hard by Covid-19 pandemic. However, they are not forgotten and is fighting the pandemic claw and nail from within their own community and the much-appreciated assistance from the Erongo Regional Government and residents from elsewhere in the Region.

Having recently lost to death their only medical doctor, one nurse to look after the sick and positive cases alarmingly on the rise, this small community refuses to give in and already raised N$150 000.
These funds will assist the current efforts of a task force, under the leadership of the Chairman of the Erongo Regional Council, Cllr. Ciske Smith-Howard, to ensure that a temporary care facility is established where Covid-19 patients can be kept stabilized as they are waiting for transfer to Swakopmund medical facilities.
Thanks to the community an uninhabited house was transformed into a care facility. A total of twenty stretcher beds (sold by Cymot at cost) are moved into the facility today. Proper linen and blankets were supplied and very soon oxygen concentrators, drip stands, nebulizers, C-pap machines will be arriving.
This temporary facility will remain on the forefront of the fight against Covid-19 in Henties Bay.
Cllr. Smith-Howard recently called upon retired medical personnel and practicing medical personnel to join a task force to assist the Ministry of Health and Social Services in Swakopmund to drive the Covid-19 vaccine campaign. The response was overwhelming.
As there are no vaccinations taking place at the moment, the task force is looking to the fight somewhere else. The Tamariskia community hall will be transformed into a temporary Covid-facility. Both the private- and state medical fraternities welcomed this plan and will be giving their support.
The Swakopmund business community also supported generously with funding and more are expected.
Donations were also received from South Africa and as far afield as Germany.
Cllr. Smith-Howard said yesterday she is overwhelmed by the generosity and support from all quarters.
It is the same task force that is setting up the Henties Bay facility, greatly advancing the coast’s capacity to deal with Covid-19 patients.
Do you want to become involved? Call Cllr. Smith-Howard on 081 681 7211.

Henties Bay in dire need of a doctor

The Chairman of the Erongo Regional Council, Cllr. Ciske Smith-Howard yesterday launched an appeal for a medical doctor to stand in as locum medical practitioner in Henties Bay.
The town’s only general practitioner, Dr. Murray Hugo, recently passed away, leaving the town with only one nurse to look after the sick
Thanks to efforts by a Covid task team put together by Cllr. Smith-Howard a second nurse is now working in Henties Bay and there is also a full-time paramedic.
A locum general practitioner would raise the bar for Henties Bay, currently hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Call Cllr. Smith-Howard at 081 681 7211.