08 May 2018

The Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness Mr Biggie Butale has encouraged health workers to always serve patients with a smile.

Addressing Masunga based health workers in the North East district on May 7,  Mr Butale said health workers provided a critical service  hence the need for them to offer service with due diligence.

The assistant minister also toured the Letsholathebe and Masunga clinics and Masunga Primary hospital to appreciate the state of the facilities and level of services offered.

He highlighted that his visit was meant to appreciate how health workers performed their duties as well as to appreciate their challenges and success story.

Mr Butale stated that the North East District Health Management Teams (DHMT) was one of the best districts in the country offering exceptional services.

He commended the workers for their hard work and further encouraged them to continue serving Batswana with dignity.
Responding to complaints on payment of overtime for the year 2017, Mr Butale said officers were not paid because the overtime vote was depleted and this forced the ministry to source funds in the 2018/19 financial year to pay them.

The assistant minister admitted that it was necessary for ambulance drivers to be armed with first aid training because of the nature of their duty as they deal with patients regularly.

Mr Butale said it was imperative for officers to be promoted so as to motivate them, however encouraging those who have been stagnant on the same position to continue serving Batswana as their cases would be looked into by management.

Some officers had complained that therey were yet to be paid for overtime worked last year.

Some drivers had also requested that they be taken for first aid training in order to stay abreast with emergency medical services.

The head of DHMT in North East Ms Rodah Phindela said budget allowing, they would train some  drivers on first aid this year and the other batch in years to come.

She stated that there was no shortage of drivers within the district however the challenge was fleet which was not efficient as they have no mini buses or buses. Ends