12 Jun 2016

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama has pleaded with Batswana to be sympathetic to the needy.  

Speaking at the handing over of a health post and a nurse’s house built to the tune of P4 million by a businessman, Mr Farouk Ismail in Letoreng on Friday, President Khama said Batswana should emulate Mr Ismail, who was compassionate and caring.

The President said it did not mean that for a person to help people in need, he/she should build a clinic or possess a lot of things. Hea said donating small things could make a difference in the lives of those in need. 

President Khama said he sourced the donation from Mr Ismail after Letoreng residents pleaded with government to build a clinic and a primary school for them during his visit.  

He said Kgosi Lekang Koboto of Letoreng also pleaded with government to furnish his office and the work had already been done.  He, however, said it was going to take time for the government to build a clinic for Letoreng residents, hence appealing to Mr Ismail. 

He said Mr Ismail had shown interest that he could build a clinic for the residents. 

President Khama said Mr Ismail was a considerate person and had already built a similar clinic and a nurse’s house at Kajaja in the North-West District. 

The acting, Minister of Health Mr Edwin Batshu, said he was delighted that Mr Ismail had selected the health sector to be a major beneficiary of his corporate social responsibility initiative. 

He said this move would go a long way in enhancing the ministry’s effort of attaining the goal of improving access to health services and in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

He noted that despite the vastness of the district, infrastructural and transport challenges; the ministry had achieved a lot in Mahalapye District Health area.

Mr Batshu said the clinic would enable Letoreng community to access services within reach.   

Handing over the donation, Mr Rasheed Chopdat, who is a brother to Mr Ismail, said the donation came straight from Mr Ismail and did not have any relation with his business, Chopppies.