01 Jul 2015

Government spends millions of pula in health care system every year, particularly on chronic, communicable and non-communicable disease.

Speaking at the Botsogo Pitso in Gaborone on Monday (June 30), an official of the Ministry of Health, Ms Eunice Ramonna said the event took place at a time when the ministry was going through a transformation process, a ‘paradigm shift’ from curative focus to a preventive one.

She added that there was need to tackle the causes of ill health; something referred to as social determinants of health.

“We can no longer afford to treat diseases when we can do all to prevent them. You will of course agree with me that disease prevention is an important part of public health among other things.”

She said it promoted healthy lifestyle choices, safe and healthy environmental and social conditions that aim to contribute to risk reduction and delay early onset of poor health and disease.

In addition, she said that individually and collectively the community could help promote health and prevent diseases, noting that everyone, communities, researchers, government and non-profit sector and the private sector should have an input.

Research has also shown that there was a rising prevalence of chronic diseases globally, from high blood pressure, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, and Botswana is not an exception.

For his part, a social counselor at University of Botswana under Careers and Counselling Centre, Mr Simon Mulosu said the biggest disease is poor self-image.

He added that nurses and doctors on a daily bases treat injuries and wounds inflicted by poor self-image .

Also, he cautioned women to desist from certain beliefs, cultural norms and upbringing that for a man to love them, they must beat them.

He noted that because of such beliefs, some women have given in to partner abuse.The Block 8 community also expressed concern that their clinic was turned into a facility of infectious diseases without consultation.

They expressed disappointment that the clinic does not open on weekends and faces shortage of medication and staff.

One resident, Ms Kentse Mollentze said the clinic maternity wing was ineffective despite that it had been transformed into a centre of infectious diseases.

She added that Block 8 residents had not been thoroughly informed about the decision .

Ms Mollentze raised  concern about air pollution in Block 8 and stray dogs that spread garbage around.

The day commenced with a public education by different health stakeholders, voluntary testing of diseases, body weight, height and Total Mass Index check-ups. Ends