27 Feb 2017

Plans are at an advanced stage to refurbish the old Maun General hospital.

Minister of Health and Wellness, Ms Dorcus Makgato informed residents of Chanoga that a tender for the refurbishment of the hospital was running and would soon be awarded.

She also said the  refurbishment of the facility would reduce congestion at the referral hospital.

The minister was responding  to residents concerns over the status of the facility during a kgotla meeting recently.

Residents also wanted to know the plans for the future use of the old hospital.

One of the residents, Ms Edith Botumile said if the facility is in a good condition, it could assists to reduce congestion at Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital.

She also complained about shortage of drugs and lifts that had long been non- operational at the referral hospital.

Other old hospitals that the minister said would be refurbished include Sekgoma, Scottish Livingstone, Mahalapye and Sefhare.

The minister explained that the decision to maintain facilities from the ministry brought many challenges, hence they had to stop the process and allocate funds to the hospitals.

Ms Makgato said maintenance has been divided into 18 District Health Management Teams (DHMTs) and every team has to form a maintenance team that would spearhead the process.

The Village Development Committee chairperson, Mr Gaditshwane Kgantele complained about shortage of staff and  furniture at  their clinic and requested that their clinic should be upgrade because it was congested.

Mr Kgantele also appreciated efforts by health management to offer mobile stops in their catchment areas and wished they could increase the days to at least twice a week.

Minister Makgato told residents that she is aware of their concerns regarding their clinic, but stated that unfortunately it is not amongst those that will be upgraded.

The minster appealed to residents   to live healthy lifestyle, saying non-communicable diseases have forced the ministry to divert funds to cater for their medication

In addition, she stated that her ministry requested P5.2 billion budget last year and this year they wanted P6.8 billion, something which she said was not sustainable.

She emphasised the need to eat healthy, noting that the public should stop eating salty, fatty and sweet foods but rather eat a lot of vegetables and fruits.

She cited that in the past more people died because of HIV/AIDS but ‘today they are killed by non-communicable diseases such as high blood pressure, cancer, sugar diabetes, among others’. ENDS