23 Nov 2015

Performance awards ceremonies are made to reflect on the journey of excellent organisational performance and to appreciate the workforce which has shown tangible results, Assistant  Minister of Health, Dr Alfred Madigele has said.

Officiating at the third annual Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital awards in Lobatse on Friday, Dr Madigele said performance awards ceremonies were part of the government’s initiative to encourage performance and service delivery by recognising and rewarding those whose performance was an edge above others.

He said awards serve as a motivating factor to the awardees to maintain or exceed their excellent performance and those who had not made it to put more effort in their work so that they could also get an award in the following year.

Through dedication and perseverance, the assistant minister said the awardees worked hard throughout the fiscal year, adding that the awards were a sign that their work did not go unnoticed.

“You contributed immensely towards provision of mental healthcare, a very important component of healthcare,” he said.

Taking from the adage that “there is no health without mental health,” Dr Madigele said the Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital staff efforts were even more admirable as their work involves working with the most vulnerable people in society who were shunned and stigmatised by some.

The assistant minister implored the awardees to understand that their commitment to excellence in providing services, not only helps the hospital and the Ministry of Health to achieve their strategic goals, but contributes to the government’s national vision.

“We are commending you today because your behaviour and your work ethics are perfectly aligned to the hospital, the ministry and the country’s strategic goals and it is our believe that the awards you receive will reinforce the positive behaviour you display at the work place on a day to day basis,” he said.

Dr Madigele said it was through initiatives such as the awards ceremony that the government shows appreciation to employees for the work that they do in serving Batswana. He said he was hopeful that gestures such as these would assist in retaining the employees in the public service for a long term.

He added that service to the public and to fellow mankind was not only a noble thing, but also godly. He urged those in the public service to know that their service was also recognised by God. For his part, Sbrana Hospital Superintendent, Dr Mpho Thula said his hospital has embraced the initiative of rewarding performance.

Dr Thula said he was grateful that their awardees did not just end by scooping awards at the hospital, but also got recognised at ministerial and even national public service awards.

He said he was certain that this year his hospital would once again have employees receiving awards at the national level. He said the awards were celebrating commitment and quality service. Ends