20 May 2019

Council of Health Services Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA) has accredited Selebi Phikwe government hospital.

Speaking at a dinner on May 17, hospital superintendent Dr Joseph Shama said the Ministry of Health and Wellness enrolled Selebi Phikwe in the accreditation process in 2014 after the hospital was awarded the best facility in the country in 2012 and 2013.

He said the hospital put in place strategies to achieve the hospital’s accreditation.

Such strategies included capacity building of health care workers, establishment of steering committee, development of a quality manual, procedures and policies for all service elements as per the COHSASA standards.

Selebi Phikwe hospital is a 65 bedded hospital, which was opened in 1975.

The hospital also served as a referral district hospital for clinics, two primary hospitals of Mmadinare and Bobonong and some clinics from Palapye and greater Francistown.

Furthermore, Dr Shama said COHSASA visited Selebi Phikwe hospital in May 2015 and it  was converted to the hospital version 6.7 with a score of 73 per cent.

He said in March 2018, the external assessment by COHSASA awarded Selebi Phikwe hospital 93 per cent.

Following this, he said evidence was submitted and COHSASA conducted a focus survey in 2018 and the overall score moved from 93 to 95 per cent, earning Selebi Phikwe  hospital a certificate of full accreditation for a period of two years.

He commended the hospital staff and stakeholders who contributed to this achievement.

“I am proud of my staff and the District Hospital Management Team for this achievement which will leave a mark in the history of SPGH.”

In addition, Dr Shama said the accreditation had many positive impact, adding that it was a key factor to attract investors to Selebi Phikwe.

He said the hospital recorded no maternal mortality in 2017, low under five mortality rate and low HIV related mortality despite the high HIV prevalence in Selebi Phikwe.

The process of accreditation started in 2009 whereby some hospitals such as Letsholathebe, Mahalapye, Scottish, Sekgoma and Princess Marina had commenced the accreditation process.

For his part, acting hospital manager, Mr Thatayaone Ntsima, commended the hospital staff for the job well done.

He said that was the first hospital to be accredited within the shortest period of time.

He said the accreditation helped the hospital to provide high quality and safe health services. ENDS