06 Dec 2016

Government is in the process of providing specialist medical services in the areas of Paediatrics, General Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Internal Medicine and Anaesthesiology to seven district hospitals.

Delivering the State-of-the-Nation Address, Monday (December 5) during the third session of the 11^th Parliament,  President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama said to date; four hospitals offer all five specialities, while three others have two to four specialists.

“Other specialist services offered on ad hoc basis include heart surgery by the Mauritian Cardiothoracic Team and hip and knee replacement in partnership with [the South African] WITS University. We also have an ongoing Organ Transplant programme with India,” he said.

Regarding the reduction of maternal mortality, he said the ministry has clustered districts into zones under specialists for prompt interventions to address complications and save mothers’ lives.

President Khama further said public medical supplies availability has improved to an average of 87 per cent for medicines, and that training of health workers in supply chain management with other development partners was continuing to build capacity for sustainable medical supplies availability.

He said consistent with EDD guidelines, government would continue to utilise its purchasing power to negotiate the prices paid for health commodities including drugs as well as facilitate private sector investment in health by encouraging local companies to produce health related products.

The President said government intends to eliminate malaria by 2018, which he said could only be realised if communities in affected areas play their part.

Regarding TB, the President said there has been a decline in TB deaths from 758 in 2005 to 492 in 2015, but noted however, that despite this progress, TB still remains a major public health concern that requires all the necessary attention and resources.

He said in an effort to mitigate against the increasing incidence of non-communicable diseases, government continues to raise awareness on common risk factors, their consequences as well as focus on preventions; screening/early detection, diagnosis and treatment.

“This includes an ongoing Breast Cancer Campaign to raise awareness and screen 80 per cent of eligible women,” he said.

With regards to the mobilisation of ESP in the health field, he said 92 health facilities were being upgraded in phases. Twenty-six clinics and five hospitals are planned for upgrading in 2016/2017, along with the phased construction of 534 staff houses.

The President said the opening of Botswana University Hospital had been delayed, but was now anticipated to finally open in the coming year, adding that it would serve as a centre for excellence in treatment.

On HIV/AIDS, he said the newly launched Treat All Strategy qualifies all individuals eligible for immediate Antiretroviral Therapy irrespective of their CD4 cell count.

President also said through the UNAIDS 90:90:90 targets, government has managed to increase the target of people who know their status to 83 per cent, of whom 87 per cent are on ART while 96 per cent of those on treatment are virologically suppressed.

“To further assist us in the eradication of HIV/AIDS, we have received a grant of US$32 172 404 from the Global Fund for Youth Prevention Programmes, Safe Male Circumcision and HIV testing services,” he said. ENDS