07 Nov 2016

Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele has said plans are underway to upgrade the Old Palapye hospital.

Speaking after touring Palapye hospital last week, Mr Makgalemele said the hospital is small, old and needs some face lift.

“In so far as the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) and other government programs are concerned, something will be done to uplift the face of the facility,” he said.

Mr Makgalemele, who is also MP for Shoshong urged the hospital staff to continue working hard to serve the nation despite the challenges the facility poses.

He urged them to adhere to the principles of 10 point agenda and service standards.

The assistant minister said their clients should be able to know their rights; as such service standards should be displayed for customers to appreciate them.

He said patients have the obligation to adhere to medication because government was investing heavily on the health sector to ensure a healthy nation.

Mr Makgalemele also urged them to use government policies such as Economic Diversification Drive (EDD) to empower local businesses.

He said Palapye District Health Management Team (DHMT) must look at the extent at which their budget was benefiting the local community and surrounding villages, adding that if not carefully guarded, the area has potential to disadvantage local businesses or breed corruption.

He thus informed them to make use of EDD and at the same time exercise caution.

Mr Makgalemele also held a meeting with Palapye Village Health Committees and Home Based Care committees.

He commended the committees for volunteering to help elderly patients and other patients. The assistant minister said the government was humbled to have such a group of people volunteering to do an overwhelming task of caring for patients.

He informed them that his ministry faced challenges as a result of patients who delay to seek medical attention.

Such people ultimately lose their lives even though their ailments could have been easily treated if they sought medical help on time, he added.

He raised concern over increasing numbers of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, hypertension and obesity, attributing this to poor eating habits and lifestyles.

Mr Makgalemele urged the committees to make backyard gardens to promote consumption of vegetables and fruits.

For her part, Palapye DHMT coordinator, Dr Gobusaone Morupisi said Palapye hospital has 50 beds.

She said the hospital was understaffed as it serves an overwhelming number of patients, which she attributed to many road accidents occurring along A1 road.Dr Morupisi said teenage pregnancy also posed a serious challenge particularly in Palapye. She said the DHMT registered 79 teenage pregnancies in the last quarter.She also decried shortage of transport, saying that it affects service. ENDS