11 Aug 2015

The Minister of Health, Ms Dorcas Makgato says her ministry will work tirelessly to transform the country’s health care system for the better.

Ms Makgato said this during the Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines (OLDM) general managers’ 20 kilometres charity walk dubbed ‘walking for health’ in Orapa on Saturday, August 8.

She said ongoing efforts to improve the provision of health care services include preparations for COHSASA accreditation programme that has been rolled out to 16 government facilities.

She noted that access to health facilities was also enhanced by the public private partnerships such as the one with Debswana where mine hospitals also serve members of the community within reach.

Ms Makgato said she was delighted that proceeds of the walk would go towards building an additional ward for Letlhakane Primary Hospital.

The initiative, she said, was not only aligned to Debswana’s vision of living a lasting legacy beyond diamond mining, but also aligned to both the Vision 2016 strategy and the Millennium Development Goals.

The minister noted that the Orapa Mine Hospital which caters for a resident population of approximately 12 000 people, was also a regional catchment area for over 54 000 people.

The support provided by Debswana, she said, would go a long way in increasing access to health services, and to augment 1 239 mobile stops in remote areas.

She said the government continues to ensure that health care services were accessible to all people, adding that 84 per cent of Batswana were within five kilometres of a health facility.

Ms Makgato said while her ministry has a clear plan of action and roadmap to address health challenges and re-shape Botswana’s health care system, there was need for support at th organisation, individual and personal level.

Health, she noted, was not only about the availability of infrastructure and service provision, but was also a personal choice and personal responsibility.

The general manager, Mr Alan Breen said the charity walk was one of the many examples that show the  partnership between Debswana, employees, business partners and the community of Boteti.

Mr Breen said this was an opportunity to impact on the lives of individuals in the community. ENDS