10 Dec 2015

The chairperson of Sekgoma Memorial Hospital Advisory Committee says the hospital is doing its best despite facing challenges. 

Mr Mpho Keoreme said the hospital, which is under the Serowe Health District Management Team (DHMT), was experiencing some setbacks such as shortage of transport, especially ambulances. 

The official maintained that the Ministry of Health was aware of the situation and had promised to address it as soon as possible. Mr Keoreme said the DHMT covered a large area hence the shortage. 

The official said they have few mobile clinics and as such they were unable to render services to other areas due to resource limitations. He said they use mobile clinics in the absence of clinic facilities.  

The chairperson further stated that the national outcry of lack of doctors and nurses was their concern too, and said the Ministry of Health was aware of the situation and were expecting the situation to be remedied. 

The chairperson said the congestion that they were faced with at the accident and emergency section of the hospital was due to the shortage.

 He, however, said plans to renovate structures in the Newtown Clinic were ongoing, noting that the plan was to make an extension for accident and emergency. 

He said presently only Boipelego Clinic operates 24 hours in their area, aiding Sekgoma Memorial Hospital which was unable to curb the congestion experienced at the hospital. 

Still on the accident and emergency section, Mr Keoreme said the old Sekgoma hospital initially had a 24 hour clinic which was relocated together with the hospital to a new facility. 

He revealed that his ministry intends to renovate the clinic in the old Sekgoma hospital. 

The clinic is expected to also run on a 24 hour basis with emergency section to help decongest the hospital. 

Mr Keoreme urged people to consult at clinics and only visit the hospital on referral.

He said the hospital was doing well in terms of drug availability and that 95-100 per cent of all the essential drugs were available. 

He said this was an improvement from the previous situation where they ran out of drugs.  

Mr Keoreme further encouraged the public to consult hospital matrons whenever they experience delays in service delivery.

“This will help people to suggest possible solutions and how they could be helped better other than always lodging complaints,” he said. 

He noted the hospital’s past achievements such as the accreditation of the hospital laboratory by the Southern African Development Committee Accreditation Service (SADCAS) in August 2015.

“This was part of the evidence for hardwork by the Sekgoma Memorial Hospital staff.”

Concerning the death of the hospital superintendent, Dr George Simwanza last month, Mr Keoreme said it had not affected the daily administrative running of the hospital. 

He stated that other senior management staff had worked tirelessly to ensure that hospital operations run smoothly. 

Mr Keoreme revealed that in the hospital advisory committee that was held recently it was cited that the Ministry of Health was aware of the passing away of Dr Simwanza and would in time announce his successor. Ends