11 May 2014

Assistant Minister of Health, Dr Gloria Somolekae says cancer care highlights issues of equity and equality in accessing health care services.

Speaking at the official closing of the three-day oncology symposium in Gaborone on May 8, she said it further highlighted issues of a weak health care systems and the need to address chronic disease in a holistic and integrated manner with a focus to strengthen the country’s systems for effective response. 

Dr Somolekae commended the commitment shown by the various partners both non-governmental and academic fraternity in guiding the ministry towards responding effectively to cancer burden.

 She appealed to all the workshop participants to translate the three day workshop into action and expressed hope that the ministry would at the end draft a plan with time frames and accounting officers to be used to guide and coordinate services for cancer control. 

The assistant minister reminded them that leadership and coordination of services for effective planning and allocation of resources, capacity building both short and long term, multidisciplinary team approach for improved patient care amongst others would help the ministry to achieve its goals. Ends