16 Jul 2015

Ministry of Health is aware that Lepashe Health Post has no ambulance as it became unserviceable since last July and has been boarded.

Answering a question in Parliament, Assistant Minister of Health, Dr Alfred Madigele said currently the health post was being assisted by Matsitama and Mosetse Health Posts and Dukwi clinics which were 25 and 29 kilometers away respectively from Lepashe.

Plans, he said were underway to acquire ambulances for the ministry and Lepashe need shall be considered alongside requests from other health facilities.

Also, Dr Madigele said it had taken long to post a second nurse to Lepashe Health Post because the nurse who was initially posted to the village declined the posting on social grounds.

As such, he said another nurse had to be identified and had since reported to the facility in May this year.

On other issues, Dr Madigele said he was aware of the shortage of bedding in Gweta Primary Hospital as the current stock levels for linen were below the set targets which were three times the bed capacity.

Nevertheless, he said the available linen was able to meet daily patients’ needs considering the bed capacity and the low bed occupancy rates in Gweta Hospital.

Also, he said the Tutume District Health Management Team (DHMT) was in the process of procuring some additional linen in order to meet the set targets by the end of this month.

Nata-Gweta MP, Mr Polson Majaga had asked the minister if he was aware that Lepashe Health Post had no ambulance and that it had taken so long for a second nurse to be posted to the village and the acute shortage of bedding at Gweta Primary Hospital.  ENDS