FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A woman had allegedly been raped by a man at the State’s mental health clinic, highly placed sources, who spoke on condition anonymity, said. The incident allegedly occurred on Tuesday, February 19 2008, between 15h00 and 20h00 in the so-called forensic section of the said health institution.

NSHR efforts to obtain comment from, among others, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Service have proved futile. Contacted for comment, the Namibian Police first said they had no information about the incident. However, Police Chief Inspector Angula Amulungu of the Police Public Relations later told NSHR that the Police’s Women and Child Protection Unit had investigated the rape allegations and that no tangible evidence could be found that rape had taken place and further that no charges of rape have so far been laid.

However, when approached for comment relatives of the alleged rape victim who also chose to remain anonymous ad interim are adamant that rape had, in fact, taken place and that criminal charges will be laid with the Police.

“I did it because I was hungry”, said the alleged rapist, an alleged criminal convict, when asked by a doctor.

Meanwhile, NSHR is also disturbed by continued allegations of inter alia widespread negligence and discourteous treatment of patients by the health personnel at the Katututa State Hospital. Last night and this morning the human rights organization heard complaints from a group of at least 30 patients who had to wait in the line from 19h30 and 24h00 without being attended to by the medical personnel on duty at the said hospital. The patients had to leave the hospital unattended and as a result some of them are now demanding that their N$30 admission fee be refunded.

NSHR is calling upon the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate the allegations of discourteous treatment at especially the casualty section of the Katutura State Hospital

For additional comment, please contact: Dorkas Phillemon at Tel: 061 253 447 or 061 236 183 (office hours only) or Phil ya Nangoloh at Cell