15 Sep 2014

The deputy director technical services in the Ministry of Health, Mr John Botsang, has encouraged the Good Hope community to utilise clinics and health posts in their respective areas for their primary health care.


Speaking during Good hope District Health Management Team (DHMT) open day recently, Mr Botsang informed the residents that Good Hope primary Hospital was reserved for emergencies and referrals.


Mr Botsang expressed concern that there were some clinics in the area that remained underutilised hence the DHMT found it necessary to maximize their utilisation by transferring some outpatient services from the hospital to these clinics.


“This strategic initiative relieved the hospital of congestion and consequently reduces patient waiting times”, Mr Botsang said.
Goodhope DHMT caters for a population of 6 362 of Borolong district, a distant district from Ramatlabama to Mmathethe and from Pitsane as far as Sekhutlane.


For easier management resources, the district is divided into 8 clusters Goodhope clinic being one of them.
The cluster houses one Goodhope clinic and 3 health posts which are Gathwane, Majaalela and Lejwana.

This cluster further extends its services through conduction of mobile stops to Gamokoto and Mogwalale
. He father noted that Goodhope clinic cluster operates with total number of 4 general nurses, 1 midwife, and 1 eye clinic nurse working on contract.


Furthermore, Mr Botsang said some successful preventative programs such as health promotion and education, prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT), Home based care and Safe Male circumcision that are available in the district. 


The Goodhope DHMT, he highlighted, has excellent strategic partners like ACHAP,NGO’S such as Lion Club, Stepping stone international and Humana People to people, that support successful preventive programs and community mobilization initiatives.


He noted that DHMT is still facing some challenges which will be addressed to ensure continue delivery of quality health services to the community


The challenges, he said are shortage of doctors adding that some clusters do not have doctors including Goodhope clinic which its doctor  has resigned.


He also noted poor water supply to clinics and staff houses, shortage of support staff such as office cleaners and security personnel as some of the challenges that the DHMT is currently facing.


Despite all these challenges, he noted that the Ministry of Health has found it imperative to appreciate the best performing units and workers across all carders.


Mr Botsang urged the community to maximize the utilization of all the comprehensive, quality health services offered by Goodhope DHMT, as they deliver excellent health services and adhere to professional standards of good clinical practice.

The day was celebrated under the theme: Community involvement in health care.  Ends