15 Feb 2016

The Assistant Minister of Health, Dr Alfred Madigele, has applauded Lorwana Village Health Committee (VHC) and nurses for building a house for a needy resident.

Officially handing over the house in Lorwana, Dr Madigele said the gesture was prove that indeed Batswana were a caring nation.

He said the project was in line with the build a house initiative, which was the brain child of President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama.

“These nurses and the village health committee members dug deep into their pockets and dedicated time to build a house,” he said.

Adequate shelter, he said, meant more than a roof over one’s head but rather adequate privacy, space, physical accessibility, security, structural stability and durability.

“Indeed shelter is a human basic need as much as food, water and clothing”, he said.

He said the provision of adequate housing required action, not only by government but by all sectors of society including the private sector, non-governmental organisations, communities and local authorities as well as by partner organisations and entities of the international community.

He said he was proud to be associated with such a noble gesture.
Giving the background of the project, VHC chairperson, Ms Kemoneilwe Motlhankaotsile said it all started when the committee members volunteered to clean the clinic and its surroundings.

Ms Motlhankaotsile said the committee came to realise that one of the residents,  Mr Swenene Siamangwe, frequented the clinic for assistance as he had breathing problems.
On realisation that Mr Siamangwe was not getting any better, they then decided to get to his place of abode to assess his living conditions and realised that he lacked adequate shelter as the house he lived in was clouded with dust.

It was then that the committee made a conclusion to build two roomed house for him. She said, it all started when the 10 committee members donated 30 bricks and P100 each to kick-start the project.
He applauded stakeholders and villagers who volunteered to donateg building materials and labour for the project to be completed on time.

For his part, Kgosi Moatlhodi Kgwakgwe of Lorwana  expressed gratitude for what the VHC members did.
Kgosi Kgwakgwe said, ‘blessed is the hand that gives, than the one that receives’.

He encouraged the givers to not only do it once, but make it a habit to find those in dire need and extend a helping hand for them.

The area councillor, Mr Beach Mooketsane also applauded the project donors, saying this was a sign of love.

Councillor Mooketsane said the donors were also in line with the word of God that giving was a true sign of love, as exemplified by God who extended his love to his people by giving them his only begotten son, Jesus Christ to come to the world and live and die for them.

He said the donors were also moving in President Khama’s footsteps of making it a habit to give to the less privileged.

He said in donating to those who were in need, the donors were bringing dignity and helping to uplift their living standards.

The recipient of the house Mr Siamangwe could not say much as he was overwhelmed with joy but to only thank the donors and all those who contributed to the building of the two roomed house that has provided him with spacious shelter. Ends