13 Mar 2017

Members of Parliament have approved the 2016/17 budget estimates for the Ministry of Health and Wellness with P6 billion planned for recurrent and P639 million earmarked for development.

The MP for Boteti West, Mr Slumber Tsogwane has called for the expansion of the Rakops hospital, as it was insufficient to adequately cater for the area population.

He further said there were four clinics which also needed to be expanded saying some of them are housed in single rooms resulting with lack of privacy between a doctor and a patient.
Selebi Phikwe East legislator, Mr Nonofo Molefhi said hospital superintendents had to be equipped with managerial skills as majority of them were ordinary doctors who got promoted.

He said he was happy the Selebi Phikwe hospital was in National Development Plan (NDP) 11, but said it should be prioritised especially since the government has embarked on an ambitious investment programme to resuscitate the once glamorous copper/nickel mining town.

MP Molefhi further said sewerage water from Botshabelo was a health risk posing danger to people but unfortunately, the health ministry officials have said it could not be treated as the town was not a malaria infected area.

The MP also said the Public Service Act has to be amended to enable the ministry to attract and retain personnel.

MP for Gaborone Bonnington South, Mr Ndaba Gaolathe commended the ministry for making strides in improving health in the country by taking its strategic points seriously.

He however said there were few lapses and called for the autonomy of major hospitals.

MP Gaolathe said the hospitals should be allowed to establish Trusts with Board of Governors running them.

He said staff retention was not only about salaries but also work design.

Mr Gaolathe said the University Hospital should be adequately resourced but added the minister has dragged her feet to open the institution.

He further said the government should re-visit health care funding and perhaps adopt the Singaporean model.

For his part, MP for Shashe West, Mr Fidelis Molao said there should be an ambulance in Mathangwane to assist nearby villages and settlements.

He said there should be at least a health post in Jamakata instead of a mobile clinic.

MP Molao said the last Population Census indicated that Chadibe was the second fastest growing village due to its proximity to Francistown, yet it only has a health post manned by two nurses. He said residents of Marapong have asked for a maternity wing in their clinic.

MP Molao said there should be an ambulance in Matsitama, saying it lies about 80 kilometres from Francistown.

Contributing to the debate, MP for Tonota, Mr Thapelo Olopeng said he was happy the hospital in Tonota would be expanded during NDP 11.

On Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs), Mr Olopeng said it was imperative for Batswana to adopt a healthy lifestyle and constantly work out.

Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi said the construction of a district hospital in Francistown must be fast tracked and not start in 2019 as stated in the NDP.

He said the district hospital would ease congestion at Nyangabgwe hospital which was initially supposed to be a referral hospital.

MP Mmolotsi said the establishment of Centers of Excellence has made it difficult for Batswana to access quality services saying for example people are forced to travel long distances for eye care at Serowe hospital.

He also called upon the minister to scrutinise the medical qualifications of foreign doctors saying Batswana have fallen prey to unqualified personnel with some living with lifetime disabilities.

MP Mmolotsi said any clinic in Francistown South should be equipped with a maternity wing to ease congestion at Area W.

The Specially Elected Member of Parliament, Mr Mephato Reatile said following the recent heavy rainfall across the country, malaria tests and treatment services should also be spread across the country.

MP Reatile also called for the establishment of maternity wings at Sese and Kokong clinics ENDS