18 Feb 2015

The Assistant Minister of Health Dr Alfred Madigele says he is only aware of lack of a resident doctor but not of equipment and medicines at Masego Clinic in Francistown. 

Responding to a question from Francistown South MP, Dr Madigele said the clinic has a total staff compliment of 19; seven nurses, one pharmacy technician, three health education assistants, three health care auxiliaries, one lay counselor, two clinic orderlies, two cleaners and a visiting doctor. 

In addition, cluster doctors visit every Tuesday and Thursday.  Dr Madigele said the clinic does not have a maternity wing and does not provide a 24 hour services and therefore the staff complement is adequate.  He said the drug availability is 94 per cent as all drugs were available except Propanolol, Penicillin and chloropheniramine syrup. 

Dr Madigele said even though there was no acute shortage of personnel or equipment at the clinic, his ministry continued to explore and implement various initiatives to attract and retain health care providers.

He said this included construction of a medical school at the University of Botswana to increase a pool of medical doctors, the continued prioritization of health professions in government sponsored trainings, increase uptake in our Institute of Health Sciences, engaging private providers to provide specialist medical services as well as continuous recruitment of medical specialists. 

The assistant minister said they continue to strengthen their supply chain management system to address shortage of drugs in the country. Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi had asked if the minister was aware of the acute shortage of personnel, equipment and medicines at Masego Clinic and what would be done to address this. ENDS