Public Health Service Delivery During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences from Katutura State Hospital in Namibia

Abstract

The goal of this assessment is to make people aware of the dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 was initially identified in China in December 2019, and it was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in January 2020, making it a global pandemic. A pandemic, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), is "an epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries and usually affecting a large number of people". This Pandemic left the planet and its inhabitants in states of turmoil and distress. The Corona Virus, also known as the COVID-19 Pandemic, made health-care delivery for both patients and health personnel, difficult for hospitals and health centres in Namibia. The study examined the global lockdown caused by the pandemic. The pandemic had a significant impact on service delivery. As a result of these situations, hospital service delivery was jeopardised. This study was conducted at Katutura State Hospital using a qualitative method with a sample size of 20 doctors and enrolled nurses. Descriptive analysis was used, with an interview guide serving as the study instrument. The study was limited by the number of participants. The investigation discovered that service delivery was severely impacted, particularly in the pharmacy sector, and that the virus slowed down all aspects of the institution. It is recommended that if patients should anticipate delays, informing them in advance would reduce unnecessary contact volume.