Expectations of stakeholders regarding home care provision in rural Namibia

Abstract

As in many countries, the disease pattern in Namibia has changed, health problems are increasing and outweigh the capacity of the existing health resources. Government health facilities in Namibia have limited capacity to accommodate all sick people, especially those who are chronically and terminally ill. Many hospitals in rural Namibia are overcrowded, patients sleep on the floors and, in some cases, children share beds. Morbidities relating particularly to AIDS, chronic conditions and other physical and emotional disabilities are likely to require longterm home care. In most instances, the health system is also not prepared to provide home care, nor provide the support that is required by the caregivers of disabled, chronically sick people. To ease the burden of care felt by the state at health facilities, the Ministry of Health and Social Services in Namibia has, on several occasions, called upon the community and other stakeholders in health care to assist in caring for their loved ones at home (NBC, 1996; MOHSS, 1996).