15 Sep 2019

The south East District Council has requested government, through the Ministry of Health and Wellness, to take over the management of the troubled Bamalete Lutheran Hospital (BLH).

The mission hospital has been going through turbulent times after the Evangelical Lutheran Mission (ELM) in Germany, which was running it, decided to shift their focus elsewhere, citing that Botswana is a middle income country.

Of late, the BLH has been hit by shortage of doctors hence the decision by the council to intervene through a motion to the ministry.  Presenting the motion, Councillor Kgabo Mabotseng pleaded with the council to request the Ministry of Health and Wellness to take over the hospital and staff from the mission.

He said the decision by the mission to withdraw its support for the hospital had made life difficult.

Mr Mabotseng said it was the government’s mission to provide quality health care to its people, hence it should consider taking over BLH.   

He said that over the years, the quality of service at the hospital had deteriorated owing to shortage of and demoralised staff.

“There is high expectations from the community,” he said, adding that the x-ray and laundry machines were out of service, despite the hospital priding itself as being one of the best health care providers in the country, a tag it would lose under the current scenario.

 In the midst of its challenges, Mr Mabotseng said many people continued to flock to the hospital because of its reputation, which further put strain on the already overstretched resources.

 He said it would be fortunate if the government steps up to take the hospital, rather than it being taken over by a private company. 

He also stated that there was need to renovate the hospital.

Councilor Baitapisi Bogatsu said the government should rescue the community by taking over the running of the hospital.

 She said it was regrettable that patients spend hours queuing for doctors, which also stretches the doctors and escalates the doctor/patient ratio.

 There were no objections to the motion.  In previous council sittings, council chairperson and BLH chairperson Mr Phenyo Segokgo told the council that the Lutheran Mission was willing to handover the hospital management to either government, churches or non-governmental organisations. ENDS