02 May 2019

Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Ms Bogolo Kenewendo on Wednesday joined members of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Kopong in a sponsored walk aimed at raising funds to procure school uniform for underprivileged students.  

Speaking at the end of the walk, which also included aerobics and health screening for various diseases, the minister said she was happy to have been part of the event as it showed compassion for the disadvantaged community members.

She said wellness was important, adding that it was great for the organisers to have the event on International Labour Day as it enabled workers to participate as well as exercise, saying a healthy body and mind resulted with high productivity levels.

The minister said it was important for people to know their health status by frequently visiting medical centres for check-ups, adding that such a move would save them money.

Ms Kenewendo said a health and wellness activity encouraged healthy living and provided networking opportunities while also improving the well-being of participants.

The minister commended Kopong residents who had registered to vote in the coming general elections, saying the prevailing peace enjoyed by Batswana was in their hands to protect and promote.

The event, which was organised by the church’s health and wellness committee invited doctors, optometrists and a dentist to provide testing services for eyes, mouth, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections,  which are said to be prevalent in the village.

For his part, the coordinator of the event, Mr Edward Ngwaga said this was the second year they held the charity walk, saying they had been able to buy uniform for 200 pupils from four schools in the area.

Speaking in an interview, he said his organisation, Diphalana Social Group, had made several donations to the Kopong community among them a mobile clinic and donkey carts to ferry pupils from nearby settlements to and from school

Mr Ngwaga said they had  been assisted by various groups among them four football social clubs, which participated in a day’s  tournament aimed at raising funds for the day. ENDS