11 Nov 2015

The Minister of Health, Ms Dorcas Makgato has commended the Francistown Institute of Health Sciences (IHS) for heeding the Presidential Housing Appeal.

Speaking at the handing over of a house to Ms Marea Dema in Francistown recently, Ms Makgato said she was delighted that institutions in her ministry continued to help provide shelter to the less fortunate in society.

She said the institutions have managed to build nine houses, including that of Ms Dema, which is the second in Francistown.

The minister said other houses were built in Palapye, Masunga, Shoshong, Good Hope, Serowe, Kazungula and Letlhakane. She also thanked the business community who partnered with the institutions in her ministry in heeding the housing appeal.

Ms Makgato, who is also Sefhare/Ramokgonami MP, said the initiatives by the institutions also promote the Vision 2016 pillar of a compassionate, just and caring nation.

She said by building the house for Ms Dema, the IHS has restored the dignity of the Dema family and appealed to relatives of Ms Dema not to fight over the house, but to instead take over from where the IHS left in terms of assistance.

Ms Makgato reiterated government’s commitment in fulfilling its mandate in restoring individual dignity by providing disadvantaged groups with decent shelter. She, however, noted that the government alone could not achieve the mandate.

IHS principal, Ms Mantate Manyothwane said they identified Ms Dema through the help of the city council’s Social and Community Development (S&CD) department.

She said they realised that Ms Dema was faced with a number of challenges such as lack of accommodation, disability, old age and poor.

Ms Manyothwane said in 2010, the staff used to assist Ms Dema by buying clothing, grocery and even washing her clothes during their wellness committee service day. 

She said in 2012 they started engaging in fundraising activities to build a house for her.

She explained that since Ms Dema did not have a plot, the then Somerset East councillor, Mr Shadreck Matsheka assisted in acquiring a plot for Ms Dema and construction commenced.

Ms Manyothwane said while construction was done by IHS staff, J Haskins and Sons assisted with roofing and plumbing material while PG donated window panes. She said the other help came from individuals and the total cost of the two-and-half roomed house was estimated at P50 000. Ends