06 May 2014

The Minister of Health, Dr John Seakgosing has told residents of Dikgonnye in Kgatleng District that government is worried by incidents of maternal deaths, despite available medical services in hospitals and clinics.

Speaking during a kgotla meeting on May 5, Minister Seakgosing said medical infrastructure had been made available so that expected mothers could deliver safely. Nevertheless, he said, maternal deaths remained high. He thus called on all stakeholders to work together towards elimination of maternal death.

Minister Seakgosing said most victims were school going children whose bodies were not yet ready to carry pregnancy and give birth. This resulted in complications during birth as doctors had to save two lives, that of the mother and the toddler.

Dr Seakgosing implored mothers to desist from home deliveries as they could lead to death due to complications. He also asked parents to talk to their children to avoid getting pregnant at a young age.

The minister asked the residents to make pregnant women honoured both ante-natal and post –natal visits so they could get all the required attention.  On a separate issue Rev Dr Seakgosing told residents government was also worried about abuse of alcohol which led to divorce and death.

Minister Seakgosing further said some patients on Anti-Retro Viral medication took alcohol with the medicine which nullified the efficacy of the medication. “This on its own disqualifies the intent of government to help these patients recover from their illness.”

Dr Seakgosing said alcohol abuse also led to gender based violence as shown by statistics and many mothers living at women’s shelters as they feared their husbands. Mr Issac Rakgati conferred with the minister that alcohol was detrimental to the good gesture extended by government to Batswana.

He said child pregnancy was rampant in their village among school going children and that some of them escaped from school and joined their boyfriends at the cattle-post.

Another resident Mr Phemelo Kgwefale said people who impregnated minors hould be brought before the courts for defilement as they were aware of what they were doing.

In his welcome remarks Kgosi Rakgati of Dikgonnye complained of lack of office space in the village as many departments were housed at the tribal offices. ENDS