09 Oct 2017

World Health Organisation regional director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti has commended Botswana government for making strides in improving the health sector.

Speaking during a visit to Scottish Livingstone Hospital and Boswelakoko service centre clinic in Molepolole recently, Dr Moeti praised the ministry for investing in health facilities in terms of quality and the standard of services offered.

She stated that the health sector had improved considerably when looking at the number of local nurses and doctors, noting that even the state of the health facilities which were being built across the country were a sign that health issues were not taken lightly.

“In the past the doctors and nurses would only be foreigners but this time around it is no longer the case and the appreciation should be directed to the government of Botswana for availing opportunities to young Batswana to tap into the medicine field,” she said.

Dr Moeti was optimistic that management would address challenges such as lack of human resources across the health sector.

“During this informative visit I was briefed by different departments that there are still serious need of specialised skills in many levels of the health sector. Though that is the case I am well informed that the government has agreements with other countries to train local nurses and doctors,” she said.

Dr Moeti further said the Ministry of Health and Wellness continued to receive the lion’s share of the budget and implored the ministry to use the resources in a cost effective way in order to achieve integrated care system.  

For his part, the Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness Mr Dikgang Makgalemele said the ministry was working hard to avail nurses and doctors who were able to communicate and relate well with patients, adding that it was the responsibility of the ministry to make sure that all Batswana had access to health facilities even in the remotest areas. ENDS