08 May 2018

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Alfred Madigele says they will open a clinic at Princess Marina Hospital this financial year to offer spine care services.

Officially opening the third Spine Care International Conference at GICC May 7, Dr Madigele explained that the move to open such a clinic at PMH was meant to augment the already existing orthopaedic services as well as improve health outcomes.

“My ministry and the World Spine Care (WSC) wish to expand this programme to other areas in the country hence the need for a strong partnership going forward,” he said.

Minister Madigele also said being part of WSC family would ensure programme sustainability as it would become an integral part of Botswana health care system.

“This relationship will enable our health care professionals access to knowledge, skills, competences necessary to ensure delivery of high quality, evidence-based and sustainable spine care services across the country,” he said.

The conference, he said was a sustainability mission for the spine care programme in Botswana, and thus the ministry and WSC clinicians in the country would work together to enable skills transfer on the understanding, management and care of spinal disorders leading to better health outcomes.

He further confirmed that Botswana had a significant number of people in need of spine care.

“A significant number of patients with spinal cord injuries from road accidents, falls, domestic violence, general violence and some from diseases visit our facilities seeking spine care on a daily basis,” he said.

He added that such people experienced drastic inevitable changes to their physical and psychological health as well as the general quality of life.

Thus, he said providing them with spine care services could have not come at a better time because they would surely benefit from such services.

“Without proper spine care, such patients experience complications such as pressure wounds, bladder and bowel dysfunction, chronic pain, joint and muscle problems with premature mortality also having been observed,” he said.

Further, he said the partnership was also timely owing to the ministry’s decision to finalise the National Medical Rehabilitation Policy and establish a rehabilitation facility in Francistown. He thus urged the WSC to also extend their support to the Francistown development.

“Attainment of good health in communities will be seriously compromised if emerging issues that challenge the health care system are not addressed,” he said.

As such, he said the conference therefore challenged all stakeholders to play a part in efforts necessary to prevent spine disability.

He added that the conference objectives also touched on matters key to the health and development of the country, precisely the health and wellness ministry.

Meanwhile, Minister Madigele acknowledged Mahalapye sub-district, specifically Shoshong where spine care started in Botswana, saying their participation in the endeavour had significantly given people in need of spine care an opportunity to improve the quality of their lives.

“Mahalapye sub-district is therefore our benchmark as a ministry and has provided experiences that are necessary to perfect spine care services elsewhere in the country,” he said.

For his part, World Federation of Spine Disorders director, Dr Richard Brown, said the impact of spinal disorders extended beyond the person with pain.

“The employer also loses skilled manpower, families end up losing breadwinners whilst the economy is as well impacted negatively,” he said.

He emphasised the need to educate local community health workers to deliver spine care interventions.

“Having access to low-cost primary care manual therapy interventions with emphasis on patient education, self-help are sustainable models of care,” he said. ENDS