22 Oct 2014

Minister of Health, Dr John Seakgosing, says despite the many challenges his ministry faces, it maintains the high standard of health care that this country is renowned for. 

Speaking at his farewell dinner and that of his assistant, Dr Seakgosing said the challenges of HIV/AIDS and increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases including recession severely limited the responsibility and outreach of his ministry.

He said despite the long working hours, which had become a norm, his ministry had humaneness, caring and kindness. “Botswana continues to boast as one of the highest rated in Africa with regard to accesses to health care and good progress towards health indicators,” he said, adding that this was not by anyway to say there were no casualties.

The Ministry of Health, he said, was better in most respect than it was over a decade ago and credit for this is due to the dedication played by the MoH staff.He said that MoH continued to receive complaints related to sub-standard service delivery in some of the facilities.

On the other hand, he said that there is latent development potential in the ministry that the staff must work collectively to realise it so that they could overcome the challenges ahead.

Dr Seakgosing noted that some of the achievements of his ministry included the introduction of specialist services at district hospitals to increase access and reduce congestion at referral centres.

He said that MoH has also achieved in the establishment of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) which has reduced waiting time and improved care.

However, Dr Seakgosing told MoH staff that in health, there was no compromise but to give patients good health adding that the ministry should forge to address the issue of human resources and that of accommodation.

Deputy Permanent Secretary- Preventative Services Ms Sheenaz El-Halabi said that Dr Seakgosing was leaving a legacy behind that had contributed immensely to the lives of Batswana and the international community.Ms El-Halabi said the way he listened, guided and articulated issues of non-communicable diseases had rendered health a key to sustainable development. ENDS