06 Jul 2017

Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Dr Alfred Madigele has told Parliament that there is shortage of transport in health facilities.

Dr Madigele, who was answering a question in Parliament on behalf of the Minister of Health and Wellness, Ms Dorcas Makgato on July 4 said despite the situation, Jwaneng District Health Management Team (DHMT) was working closely with relevant authorities on the process of maintaining  vehicles.

He said currently there were two vehicles that were being used to assist patients in Jwaneng, adding however that in some circumstances assistance was being sought from the Jwaneng Mine Hospital.

He explained therefore that there had not been a situation where patients could not be assisted on account of the shortage.

Attributing frequent vehicle breakdowns to bad roads, the minister said six ambulances were off the road while eight were on the road in the Jwaneng DHMT area.

He said ambulances and serviceable vehicles were being serviced at Mabutsane and Lobatse CTO depots, Broadhurst Motors, Motor Centre as well as Delta Motors in Gaborone.

He said the vehicles that were serviced at 5 000-kilometre intervals took a day to be serviced, while those serviced at 10 000- kilometre intervals took two days depending on how long the queues were.

The ones serviced at CTO took long because of request for quotations as well as shortage of garages in Jwaneng.

MP Shawn Ntlhaile of Jwaneng-Mabutsane had asked the minister if she was aware that Jwaneng DHMT had a shortage of serviceable vehicles and ambulances and that patients were often left stranded as a result.

He had wanted the minister to state the total number of ambulances currently working and those off the road.

Mr Ntlhaile also asked the minister to state the frequency and cause of breakdowns; as well as the service and maintenance plan for vehicles.

He also requested the minister to state the location and name of the service facility, and the turnaround time for such service. ENDS