05 Mar 2013

Palapye Primary Hospital chief medical officer Dr Goitseone Montsho says 'Botsogo Pitso’ gives both the service provider and recipient an opportunity to proactively engage with the aim of improving service delivery as well as giving feedback of the services provided.

Dr Montsho said during a kgotla meeting in Radisele last week that the strategy was derived from the Primary Health Care concept of community involvement and active participation in their health agenda.

The day dubbed: Botsogo Pitso is a strategy adopted by the Ministry of Health in order to develop a partnership with the community.

“The general expectation is that following pitso, there should be a change in attitude by both parties, change in behavior and improvement in promoting care,” he said.

He stated that the strategy brought collateral benefits of reducing travelling costs, reduced faults on treatment, and adequate time for domestic chores such as caring for children and the elderly as well as attending the fields.

Furthermore, he mentioned that Palapye District Health Management Team (DHMT) provided promotional and preventative services as well as curative services.

Dr Montsho urged the residents to get more organised in identifying health issues in the community, take responsibility and liaise with the health workers within specific catchment areas in tackling health issues.

The official said Palapye DHMT was aware of some of the challenges affecting health operations such as low levels of drug supplies and poor working structures. He said due to unforeseen circumstances such as the economic recession, government had no funds to carry out some projects and as such  prioritised its projects.

In addition, Dr Montsho pointed out that Palapye DHMT was grateful for the support and role played by the residents in many spheres of care and certainly appreciated their input.

Radisele resident Ms Pelontle Tshimo said there was improvement concerning the attitude of staff at clinics and hospital towards patients.

She suggested that ambulances and government vehicles should help transport patients particularly the elderly to health facilities when they were referred to Palapye Hospital.

She also urged DHMT to ensure that medication for ailments such as hypertension was always in stock.

The pitso also covered programmes like adolescent sexual and reproductive health, clinical social work and community tuberculosis care. ENDS