10 Mar 2019

The debate on proposed budget allocations for the Ministry of Health and Wellness for the next financial year drew to a close on March 7 with MPs calling for measures to be put in place to enhance the ministry’s effectiveness.

MP for Mahalapye East, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso advocated for the legalisation of abortion, saying many women continued to lose their lives due to unsafe abortions.

Ms Tshireletso appealed for the designation of some clinics to offer abortion services so that women could terminate their pregnancies within the confines of the law if they wished.

The MP further said trans-gender and intersex people also needed to have their rights protected so that they would no longer have to approach courts of law if they wished to change their gender.

In the end, she commended the ministry for the good care that patients were receiving in the intensive care units, particularly at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital and Princess Marina Hospital.

Specially Elected MP, Ms Bogolo Kenewendo raised concern over the high maternal mortality rate in the country, saying it was important to intensify efforts to reverse the trend.

The legislator also decried the low levels of service delivery in health facilities.

She said there were serious issues of delayed referrals, mismanagement and poor monitoring of patients, negligence and substandard care.

MP for Ghanzi North, Mr Noah Salakae complained of declining service standards in health facilities.

He said there were shortages of bedding, drugs and vehicles among others, and that staff was consequently demoralised.

Mr Salakae also said most staff houses for health personnel were uninhabitable.

He added that the situation could result in poor discharge of duties by employees.

Mr Patrick Ralotsia of Kanye North said the Kanye SDA Hospital used to be a centre of excellence before it entered into a partnership with government.

The MP added that the hospital was overwhelmed as it was serving a large catchment area.

MP Shaw Kgathi of Bobonong expressed worry at the length of time that patients waited before they could be seen by doctors after being referred to Princess Marina Hospital and Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital.

Mr Kgathi also called for members of the public to be issued with health cards into which all health information of individuals could be recorded for easy reference.

The legislator also asked for an update on the upgrading of health facilities in his constituency, citing those in Semolale and Gobojango.

MP Wynter Mmolotsi of Francistown South noted that the introduction of shift work in the Francistown health district had put the lives of employees at risk as some shifts required them to report for duty or knock off at awkward hours. ENDS