12 Aug 2018

President Mokgweetsi Masisi has commended the owners and directors of the Riverside Hospital in Francistown for the remarkable and visionary leadership, which had contributed significantly to saving lives of many citizens as well as giving them care and comfort.

The President was, on August 9, officially opening the Kidney and Dialysis Clinic in Palapye, which is part of the Riverside Hospital Network headquartered in Francistown.

President Masisi said the establishment of the Riverside Hospital Palapye Dialysis Clinic at a cost in excess of P6 million  complemented government’s efforts to address chronic diseases such as kidney complications, which were not only  expensive to manage, but the equipment and services provided to treat them were also  scarce in Botswana.

“This is one of the few private hospitals of its nature in Botswana and I am confident that it will go a long way in ensuring that government gets the necessary support from the private sector in offering world class medical services to both citizens and foreign patients,” he said.

Riverside hospital extended the scope of its services over the years, having started by offering highly active Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV infected persons in November 1996.

Over the years the hospital has expanded its services to include a theatre and general clinic, a medical specialist outpatient clinic, gynaecology services, a radio diagnostics facility, a laboratory and occupational health services.

President Masisi said the latest addition of these services was the kidney and dialysis units, which were prompted by the increasing prevalence of chronic kidney diseases as a result of incidence of HIV, hypertension and diabetes.

He further said the establishment of a Renal Dialysis Centre in Palapye was necessitated by the fact that many patients from Palapye and neighbouring villages had to seek treatment at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital in Francistown.

“This is a commendable effort by the directors of the Riverside Hospital to bring critical medical services closer to the people of this region.”

Government, he said, offered all forms of renal replacement therapy services such a peritoneal analysis and kidney transplant in public hospitals, in particular Nyangabgwe and Princess Marina.

The Hemodialysis service, he said was limited in the country resulting in many patients travelling long distances to access the service.

In addition, he said the cost associated with the treatment of kidney diseases were ‘very prohibitive’ and therefore the stepping in of the private sector to provide such services locally was a welcome development, adding that government also funds patients who receive medical attention from this clinic.

He said 45 patients were treated at the clinic daily and currently the dialysis units were operated by a German based company,  Fresenius Medical Care, which was globally renowned for kidney care.

He also stated that the country’s National Vision 2036 recognises good health and wellness as a basic human right and a necessary condition for human development.

Government, President Masisi said, has committed itself to developing healthcare services through technologically advanced delivery systems, adding that the prevalence of non-communicable diseases would be addressed through a multi-pronged approach that recognises individual and institutional roles and responsibilities.

For his part, the MP for Palapye Mr Moiseraele Goya welcomed the new facility, saying that it would improve the quality of healthcare services.

He also commended the owners and managers of the clinic for bringing health services for residents of Palapye, adding that it would  cut the cost of travelling to Gaborone and Francistown to access their service.

Also, Mr Goya said the clinic would be of great importance to the community of Palapye, not only by providing health services, but with regard to creating employment for residents, adding that government supported the contribution of the private sector.

The managing director of Riverside Hospital Kidney and Dialysis Clinic, Dr Kgosidialwa Mompati thanked all those who played a part in the establishment of the facility.

He said it was not an easy road to achieve the goal due to stringent regulations.

However, he commended President Masisi’s government for working tirelessly to create a conducive environment for the private sector to thrive.

He notably thanked the new administration for adopting a culture of facilitation over frustration. ENDS