22 Dec 2015

The Assistant Minister of Health, Dr Alfred Madigele, has implored the public to be responsible for their health.

Speaking at a Moshupa health fair recently, he challenged both parents and children to be health conscious and refrain from throwing the burden of health to the government.

He said people should strive for both the mental and physical fitness so as to live healthier and productive lifestyles. Dr Madigele was standing in for the Member of Parliament for Moshupa-Manyana constituency, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi who is also the Vice President.

When relaying Mr Masisi’s message, he said construction of the long awaited Moshupa hospital would commence next year if resources permit. He said the 70-bed hospital would be erected in a 12 hectare piece of land. 

The other good news for the villagers is that Moshupa clinic would have additional health services such as the laboratory and  dental unit.

Furthermore, the public was accorded an opportunity to test for different diseases such as sugar diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and HIV/AIDS as well as oral care services, eye services and condom education.

Dr Madigele said most people now live closer to the health facilities, which was a great breakthrough for the government.

He said taking care of patients was expensive and therefore implored the public to prevent diseases emphasising that people should make use of available government health programmes to advance their health status.

He expressed concern that ARVs were not taken as prescribed by doctors and warned that this made the virus resistant to treatment. He said most diseases were preventable and curable but advised that it took responsibility to prevent diseases as well as adhere to doctors’ prescriptions.

Dr Madigele said dancing and exercising reduced the amount of fat in the body adding that people should reduce the intake of salt as it had the potential to cause high blood pressure.

He said the objective of the day was to bring services closer to the people, sensitise and create awareness on health issues.

He said the event was meant to make people responsible for their lives as well as know their health status adding that if they know their status they were better positioned to take appropriate decisions with regard to advancing their health status. BOPA