30 May 2017

Portfolio committee on Health and HIV/AIDS has learnt that due to mass transfers, Chobe District has been hit by severe shortage of skilled medical officers due to delays in replacing them.

Acting head of Pandamatenga facility, Mr Stephen Siwale also told the committee that due to staff shortage, their prescriber was also doubling as the dispenser after the latter were transferred and never replaced.

Member of the portfolio committee, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe warned against the practice highlighting that it could result in wrong prescriptions being given to patients endangering their lives.

Head of Chobe District Health Management Team, Dr John Makuka explained that they experienced quick mass transfers of officers and slow efforts in replacing them.

“You find that we lose 31 officers who are ready to walk out faster than others are willing to come in,” he said.

The district, he said, had prescribers in each health facility but since their transfer, no efforts were being done to get them replaced.

“Those of us in the periphery suffer a lot because officers are reluctant to move here citing that Chobe is too far,” he said.

The committee thus emphasised the need for the matter to be taken up by the Ministry of Health and Wellness urgently.

The committee also learnt that Pandamatenga health facility had not been able to conduct mobile clinics for more than two months due to unavailability of vehicles.

Staff at Pandamatenga clinic complained that their land cruiser vehicle was often being used by villages in the Chobe Enclave West leaving them stranded and unable to conduct their own mobile clinics.

With a population of more than 3 100, the health facility conducts mobile clinics to the farming community where farms are spread far apart.

The committee whose mandate is among others to overview provision of health services around the country was on their first leg of their tour in the district.

The purpose of the tour is to hold consultative meetings with management and members of the staff on issues of operations, welfare, uptake of services in the facilities, achievements and challenges. ENDS