02 Mar 2016

Due to congestion at Letlhakane Primary Hospital (LPH), an agreement has been reached to transfer patients to Orapa mine hospital when the number of admitted patients exceeds the official bed capacity.

The District Health Management Team (DHMT) head, Dr Solomon Tegegne said during Boteti Sub-district council session held in Letlhakane recently. 

Dr Tegegne said the agreement which was made between the Ministry of Health, Debswana management and DHMT stated that LPH should refer patients to Orapa mine hospital where the capacity of the hospital can handle such number of patients. 

It was also agreed that LPH should offload its patients to Orapa Mine Hospital.

During the meeting, Debswana pledged to build a ward at the hospital to alleviate congestion at Letlhakane Primary Hospital.

The structure would have maternity ward, pediatrics and radiology unit as critical components of expansions.

Dr Tegegne noted that Letlhakane Primary Hospital X-ray unit is too small with inadequate area and insufficient rooms for scanning space and storage.

Currently he said the adjacent hematology part of the laboratory has been relocated to other lab component area, while bleeding is done at IDCC.

He stated that this has enabled the hospital to provide space for ultra sound scanning and improved waiting area and the best option forward to speed up the construction as part of expansion to have a standard and habitable X-ray unit.

In addition Dr Tegegne said hospital drug storage facilities were inadequate and therefore was utilising one storage and mini store at IDCC and dispensary.

In 2015 LPH alone has rendered 81 864 an outpatient consultation services while it was 72 605 in 2014 which has shown an increase of 11.2 per cent.

He said there were 3 224 admissions and 54 deaths in 2015 that translates with a death rate of 1.67 per cent at LPH.

 He also added that there were 1 044 deliveries in 2015.

When commenting, councillor Matshwenyego Shaka requested Dr Tegegne to explain when Mopipi clinic would be furnished with a standby generator since it is operating 24 hours.

He also wanted to know if the number of nurses at the clinic could not be increased, since there is a challenge of space.

Mr Matshwenyego asked whether Mopipi clinic could not be relocated since there is a challenge of space at the premises.

Whilst councillor Phankgi Resetse noted that even if capacity of LPH is so small, what was the management doing to ensure effectiveness among the staff members. 

He stated that the condition of the patients worsens once referred to LPH on transit to Nyangabgwe.

He asked Dr Tegegne to explain why Mokubilo and Mmeya were sharing ambulances.

Councillor Boitshwarelo Mopedi complained that they have requested that one of the clinics in Letlhakane should be converted into a 24 hours operation facility.

Councillor for Xhumo complained that Xhumo doctor has been transferred two years ago, saying they only see a doctor once in a while when there is a doctor visiting the village.

In response Dr Tegegne said doctors’ visit depended on the availability of a doctor, saying they were planning to post a doctor to Xhumo cluster.

He stated that a new clinic would be constructed at Mmadikola and another at Mopipi.

On the issue of effectiveness he said direct referral was allowed to Nyangabgwe hospital from Mokubilo. Ends