26 Jun 2017

The Church of Jesus Christ of the latter-day saints has donated training equipment to the Ministry of Health and Wellness on Friday.

The donation follows a workshop of the church’s training of medical personnel from different areas in Botswana which commenced on June 19 and ended on June 24.

The training was based on two courses, helping mothers survive: bleeding after birth as well as essential care for a small baby.

The church donated 250 infant resuscitators, 75 MamaNatalie, delivery simulator, 75 MamaBreast, 75 premie-Natalie, 750 learning guides per course and 110 flip charts to help trainees in their courses.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, chief health officer in Emergency Medical Services, Ms Karabo Thokwane stated that the government had adopted sustainable development goals and one of them was to reduce maternal mortality, neonatal mortality and under five mortality.

She said the church’s donation was instrumental in promoting and supporting the government’s goal by improving skills and building capacity for doctors, midwives and nurses for providing care for babies and their

Ms Thokwane mentioned that the donation came at the right time when the ministry had challenges of funds for training, hence building internal training capacity in the form of master trainers and trainer of trainers.  

For his part, an official from the church, Mr Oduetse Mokweni said the church’s presence in the country dated back to 1975, but registered in 1991 adding that since then it had been actively engaged in a number of humanitarian projects in the country.

He said the church humanitarian work primarily helps those in need but not members of the church.

Gaborone city mayor, Kagiso Thutlwe noted that the participants took part in an important undertaking that would help  save lives and grow the already small population of the country. ENDS