02 Jun 2014

Niamey Foundation Organisation from the United States will provide opportunities for Batswana who have no access to essential medical care and treatments thus improving their quality of life.

Speaking during a press briefing held at Botswana International University of Science and Technology, its founder Dr Augustine Onwukwe said his organisation is dedicated to providing vital healthcare services to impoverished people.

Dr Onwukwe said the organisation aims to provide diagnostic equipment and training to healthcare providers, improve the overall efficiency of healthcare delivery system including advancing the ability to diagnose and treat medical conditions and improving mortality and morbidity indices.

He said Botswana with a population of 2 million which translates to an increase of 17 209 people as compared to 2011 need assistance, as health in general particularly HIV/AIDS is exerting a considerable impact on the social and economic fronts of lives in Botswana.

In addition, Dr Onwukwe said the country is faced with emerging health problems such as non-communicable diseases which requires the country to strengthen the capacity of health services for timely response.

He said Botswana’s aim is to move from malaria control to elimination by 2015, hence the need to focus on development and implementation of a comprehensive malaria elimination strategy.

Other issues of concern, he said, are maternal mortality, the high cervical cancer, non-communicable diseases, hypertension, cancer and diabetes, while oral health, mental health, injuries and disabilities are also becoming problems.

He said the organisation plans to make basic and specialised medical services accessible to many through operation of multi-specialty hospital whereby the  organisation would diagnose and treat diseases and medical conditions such as hypertension, HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, malaria, stroke and dehydration.

For his part, BIUST vice chancellor Professor Hilary Inyang said as the university, it was part of their primary mandate to identify challenges faced by the local community and assist government in providing answers and solution to the problems.

He said one of the identified challenges faced by the local communities was in the area of health and they have also realised that government has very limited resources to meet the health needs of every citizen.

“Niamey foundation is better placed to address the health needs of local communities in order to ensure that the envisaged medical mission yields maximum results, he said.

He said the health sector also faced serious challenges of transport and such BIUST was prepared to assist Palapye and the surrounding areas where possible. Ends