Government Institutions Bring Essential Services Directly to Oshikoto Communities
In a significant move to bridge the gap between citizens and public services, the Oshikoto Regional Council has joined forces with multiple government ministries to deliver critical services directly to residents across 11 constituencies. This collaborative initiative, involving the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development alongside other key institutions, marks a proactive step in making government more accessible.
A Multi-Ministerial Outreach Effort
The coordinated effort brings together a wide array of services under one umbrella. Ministries such as Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, and Health, as well as the police force, have pooled their resources to reach communities that might otherwise face challenges accessing these vital services. The program is designed to bring government to the people, rather than the people to government.
Regional Expo Serves as a Central Platform
A key component of this outreach is the Oshikoto regional expo, which serves as a central platform for service delivery. A government institution official was tasked with organizing women regarding the launch of the expo and providing information about the various ministries present at the event. The health and government institution expo was held for two weeks in all constituencies of the region.
Petrus Nehale, the spokesperson for the Oshikoto Regional Council, revealed that the regional expo serves as a platform to bring services closer to the people, such as vital documents, identity documents, and our own safety. “We were going to educate the community about unity and good child-rearing, as well as disputes amongst ourselves,” Nehale explained.
Education and Problem-Solving at the Forefront
Nehale said that other institutions like Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, and others, would also educate the community about the solutions available at the expo so that people can attend and access those services.
The event organizer at the regional council, Christella Mwenyoyo, highlighted the importance of the regional expo with the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development since they started the initiative to provide information and guidance to community members. “This education is the right time to provide guidance to the community. The community members have the expectation that the regional council’s event is the appropriate tool to remove all the challenges faced by community members in the region,” Mwenyoyo said.
Addressing Persistent Community Challenges
Mwenyoyo emphasized that the regional expo has the capacity to consolidate solutions in the community but it has been noted that the community still faces challenges and making connections with government institutions needs to begin. Furthermore, Mwenyoyo said the community members expect that the regional expo has the ability to remove their difficulties.
“Therefore, we are removing all government institutions that have committed to coming to the community and providing information that was previously inaccessible to community members and youth,” Mwenyoyo revealed again.
A Sustained Channel for Information
Mwenyoyo committed that the regional council, in collaboration with government ministries, will continue to be a channel for disseminating information in the community every day.