30 Aug 2016

Residents of Sehithwa in Ngamiland have been informed that their clinic will be upgraded under the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP).

The Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, said this when responding to some concerns raised during a kgotla meeting he addressed recently.

He said   the clinic would have x-ray laboratory and staff houses.

Regarding the issue of posting doctors to clinics, he explained that it was a problem country wide noting that efforts were made to hire them but they resigned within a short period of time.

He said some did not accept to work in districts.

For his part, Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital superintendent, Dr Maxwell Mungisi  said the upgraded clinic would have extra services such as eye and dental units.

Regarding the issue of posting a permanent doctor to the facility, Dr Mungisi decried shortage of doctors in the district noting that the little number they had did not allow them to post one at the clinic.

He said they were hopeful that in future they would get one as the University of Botswana had started producing doctors. He agreed with residents that there was need to have a doctor who would service Sehithwa and the surrounding villages.

Residents also requested that the clinic should operate 24 hours but they were told that it was impossible due to shortage of staff.

The hospital superintendent said their wish to operate 24 hours but, “we are under staffed as we have three general nurses and three midwives”.

He said going forward, they would have to beef up their staff and noted that currently they would request that the nurse be awaken to attend patients at night.

Earlier on, the Village Development Committee chairperson, Ms Maletelo Molatlhiwa said patients had to travel long distances to Maun to consult  a doctor.

In addition, she said they had a mortuary but there was no doctor to certify dead people, adding that the doctor only came to assist those on ARV treatment.

On other issues, she requested a service centre in the village so that the communities could access services closer.

An official from ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Berzack Maphakwane said Sehithwa and Shakawe were earmarked to be sub districts in 2008 but due to the economic downturn the projects were shelved.

He said while waiting for the economy to recover, it was suggested that a service centre be constructed at Sehithwa. He urged residents to be patient as their concerns are taken into consideration. ENDS