27 May 2019

A motivated and happy workforce is critical to delivery of quality healthcare services.

This was said by Kgalagadi District council chairperson Mr Meleko Thumpe during the region’s District Health Management Team (DHMT) awards on Friday.

He said government invested a lot of resources on primary healthcare, health promotion and organisational excellence in order to deliver quality health care to Batswana.

Thus, he said, it was pertinent for the health care workers to be motivated to optimally perform in order to ensure that the allocated resources served the people effectively.  

He applauded DHMT management for organising the second installment of the awards, which he said showed they valued employees. “We must focus our attention on uplifting staff morale to ensure that we turn their attitude into exceptional patient care because happy employees make happy clients,” he said.

He said for the Ministry of Health and Wellness to attain its vision of achieving a healthy nation by 2023, it was imperative to put health workers happiness and job satisfaction first so that it trickled down to the patients.

Further, he applauded the Kgalagadi South DHMT for responding to Malaria outbreaks in a timely manner, thus averting damage that could have otherwise occurred had they not responded promptly.

“The district was recently hit by Malaria cases in Hereford and your rapid response team showed emergency preparedness, you performed well and continue to educate the community on Malaria prevention,” he said.

Mr Thumpe appreciated the healthcare workers for responding with agility to his call for cleanliness to be embedded as one of Tsabong Primary Hospital key daily operations to prevent prevalence of diseases with the hospital conducting general cleaning every Friday.

He appreciated healthcare workers who had been based in the region and served meritoriously for the past 25 years during the time where there were resource constraints.

Kgalagadi South DHMT performance improvement coordinator, Mr Davy Mwape asserted that the ministry awarded one per cent of the total workforce annually and over the years it was realised that the initiative could be administered at local level, thus it was escalated down to the DHMT.

He highlighted that the award ceremony was targeted at motivating staff and encouraging those who performed beyond expectation to continue to deliver as per the ministry vision.

“To this effect, in 2018 we actualised this initiative using the same standards and guidelines of the ministry.

Kgalagadi South has continued to hold awards with increasing numbers and also considered a reasonable number of those who have served the nation with dedication and patriotism for more than 25 years and above,” he said.

A total of 22 awards were given to healthcare employees in various categories, where each awardee received a gift voucher worth P1 000.  “This gesture by management requires you to respond positively by reciprocating to its expectations, our community is always crying for quality healthcare delivery and a workforce that is patient-focused and dedicated,” he said.

Mr Mwape implored the awardees to inspire others to go an extra mile in healthcare delivery, highlighting that a positive attitude in the workplace could go a long way in serving the clients.

The Long service with Good Conduct award was given to; Salita Ntau, Selina Sethibang, Korwe Boitumelo, Keledi Ramokate, Ridah Vanniekerk, Eldah Kgopolelo-Saku, Annita Cooper and Juriah Proctor.

Performer of the year awards were scooped by; Otsetswe Bontsi, Modise Dilelo, Barolong Keatlhotswe, Elizabeth  Baitsewe, Teseko Ntau, Agnes Chiameka, Annitah Cooper, Boneilweng

Kgosikoma, Dimakatso Mereyabone, Nkeletsang Monyapi and Sarah Peacok. While the Corporate service award was scooped by Ms Kgalalelo Tauetsile and Ms Nkeletsang Monyepi.  ENDS