15 Feb 2013

Ambassador Juan Corrales of Cuba has promised to increase the number of medical specialists working in Botswana.

He made the promise during his visit to Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital in Lobatse

Mr Corrales said mental issues required professionals who could provide quality services to patients. He said occupational therapists and pyschiatric specialists played an important role hence the need to increase their number.

 Occupational therapy treatment focused on helping people achieve independence in all areas of their lives. Mr Corrales said they were intending to bring five doctors who would be working on daily basis with the community.

He praised the government for recognising the Cuban contribution in the health system noting that the President Lt Gen. Sir Seretse Khama Ian Khama acknowledged their efforts in his state of the nation address and expressed his most heartfelt appreciation to Cuba for having afforded Batswana the much needed assistance.

He said over the past 27 years, Cuba had posted teams of its own health professionals to provide specialty care in Botswana health system and the number had been increasing gradually. “I assure you that our support to the health sector in Botswana will continue and we are intending to increase the number of specialists”, he added.

Mr Corrales revealed that in Cuba, they developed a list of specialists because it was their aim to restore dignity among the communities. He observed that psychiatric hospital was a sensitive institution that dealt with persons who were not in a stable condition to manage themselves, adding that the patients needed a great level of care and dedication.

He said there was need for government to give priority to mental health issues and also to specialists. He praised the Cuban specialists working in Botswana for a job well done.

 “We are proud to be part of the health system in Botswana and it is important to recognize a good job done in psychiatric hospitals”, he said.

For her part, Sbrana consultant psychiatric, Dr Chedza Hatichki informed the Cuban ambassador and his entourage that the hospital's mission was to respond to the needs of society by offering expertise in a wide-range of services while their vision was to provide an excellent standard of service.

She acknowledged the Cuban staff’s contribution to the hospital who were working in the occupational therapy. She said they were doing a good job in rehabilitating patients.

Dr Hatichki also thanked the ambassador for responding to their needs to increase specialists. She informed him about the hospital achievements such as creating a good working relation with the community and other sectors such as churches. 

Dr Hatichki mentioned some of the challenges faced by the hospital such as shortage of staff, structural challenges and overcrowding of patients. She noted that despite those challenges, the staff continues to strive to provide an excellent service to satisfy the customers. ENDS