The state of hospitals, especially in the far-flung areas of the Okavango and Ngamiland, left a lot to be desired. Teachers at schools across the country perished in large numbers as well as their students. Under normal circumstances, where there is a vacancy in a ward or parliamentary seat due to the death of the incumbent, by-elections are held within three months. It was not the case during the year under review, as 11 council wards went without representatives for over 12 months due to the debilitating effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
I chose the health story because it was big and has equally widely affected other sectors in many ways than one. There is a serious shortage of beds in hospitals and COVID-19 worsened the situation since hospitals and clinics were forced to create isolation centres. Therefore, little resources that the health sector has, were then divided amongst the normal wards and isolation centres thereby compounding the situation in some of the wards. Some patients admitted for other diseases other than the COVID-19, found themselves sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Health facilities also need serious renovation. Even premium private sector hospitals and clinics’ shortfalls were exposed, as they couldn’t cope with the surge in COVID-19 cases.
