22 Apr 2013

Botswana still lags behind in containing diseases such as HIV and AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis (TB), the Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri has said.

Mr Matlhabaphiri told  a kgotla meeting in Takatokwane last week that from 1990 until 2000, TB affected 250 in 100 000 people, which he said was a commendable effort in addressing the disease by the government.

He said however, that rose in the early 2000s when the number of TB infected people doubled to about 500 infections in every 100 000 people.

On issues concerning HIV and AIDS, he said the county still ranks one of the highest in as far as people infected is concerned.

He however, said this could be attributed to the fact that Botswana is one of the first countries to offer ARVs, while other countries only focused on prevention of new infections.

He said this might mean that infected people in other countries died while in Botswana they are still alive due to ARVs.

The assistant minister also encouraged people to use tried and tested methods of prevention such as condomising, sticking to one partner and circumcision. Concerning malaria, Mr Matlhabaphiri advised people to rush for medical attention as soon as they notice symptoms associated with malaria such as high fever and vomiting.

He also said malaria is preventable through measures such as keeping the environment clean and using mosquito nets as well as spraying. He said Botswana alongside other countries such as Namibia and Swaziland has a common objective of eliminating malaria by 2015.

On other issues, Mr Matlhabaphiri informed residents that lack of facilities such as accommodation for staff members, especially doctors has delayed the transformation of the Takatokwane clinic into a 24-hour clinic.

He however, assured them that necessary arrangements are being made, and promised that the clinic will start operating around the clock as soon as such issues are sorted.

“As government we are eager to upgrade a few clinics to operate 24 hours because it will help reduce congestion at other clinics that are already operating in that manner, so we will work around the clock to ensure that necessary arrangements are made to ensure the Takatokwane clinic operates 24 hours as soon as possible,” he said.

The clinic was supposed to have started operating around the clock beginning this month, but that was made impossible by the fact that it currently operates with only one doctor.

He said the transformation of the clinic into a 24 hour facility will also bring other necessary improvements such as the installation of a standby generator as well as transport.

“We do not want the clinic to operate around the clock only in name, but we will ensure that all other necessary arrangements are made to go with the expansion,” he said.  He also informed residents that if government cannot construct a primary hospital in the area, considerations will be done to turn the Takatokwane clinic into a health centre if funds are available in the future.

Mr Matlhabaphiri also informed residents that clinics have no revenue collectors, which then means that consultation fees cannot be collected.

The Assistant minister was responding to residents’ pleas to construct a primary hospital in the area to reduce the distance they have to travel to hospitals. They were also concerned that consultations fees are not paid at their clinic, which leads to government losing out.  ENDS