26 May 2019

Village development committees and leadership of Shashe West constituency have been commended for selecting health- related projects to be undertaken through the constituency fund.

Touring health facilities in six villages falling under the constituency, being Mafhungo/Hubona, Mathangwane, Chadibe, Natale, Jamataka and Matsitama on Friday, Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe said it was highly commendable for the people of Shashe West to have decided to improve their health facilities ahead of everything else.

He highlighted that when the fund was established, it was meant for the revival of developments in constituencies, adding that having prioritised the improvement of health facilities, the constituents had also prompted his ministry to serve them better and also facilitate other necessities required in those health facilities.

He said all the health facilities he toured were not in the ministry’s plan to be refurbished or built.

He however assured residents that they would incorporate them in their plans and have staff placed at them to serve the communities.

Mr Lelatisitswe said at Jamataka, there was no structure at all and now that they had built it, government would ensure that all services were brought there, adding that already the nurse had been placed at the area.

He even tasked greater Francistown health management team to facilitate all the requirements for the facility to start operating and was hopeful that by the end of the month people would start getting services.

For his part, Dr Imili Muchapa of the Francistown District Health Management Team noted that it was a relief that the people of Jamataka and surrounding areas would get health services nearer instead of going to Borolong.

Dr Muchapa highlighted that they had been experiencing an increasing number of defaulters on their medication and expressed confidence that the new development would help in tracking and encouraging them to follow the doctors’ prescriptions.

At the same time, he stated that it was also a relief for the congested Borolong Clinic, and further promised that they would ensure that a doctor was availed on a weekly basis to attend to appointments and follow ups.

He also noted that since Antiretroviral treatment had been provided only at Borolong, arrangmenets would be made to have Jamataka offering such services.

Meanwhile, in Mafhungo/Hubona, Kgosi Tendani Manyiwa asked the assistant minister to engage Tutume Sub-district Council to push for the commencing of the remaining wing of the health post.

He said it had been reported that the project was at adjudication stage since last year.

He noted that they were worried that if it could start when the facility had started operating, it was going to compromise safety  as it is within the same area occupied by the new structure. ENDS