18 Sep 2019

Moshupa primary hospital, once completed, is expected to ease congestion at other health facilities in Thamaga and Kanye.

Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony for the project on Tuesday, Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Alfred Madigele said the 70-bed facility would also reduce the distance Moshupa residents had to travel for health services.

He said the project was part of government’s commitment to provide universal health coverage which included providing relevant infrastructure, equipment and trained personnel.

The minister commended Moshupa leadership and residents for their patience since they had long requested for a hospital in their village saying the long wait was blessing in disguise since the initial plan was for a smaller facility.

Dr Madigele said even though Botswana was making strides in improving access to health facilities, there were still challenges citing non-communicable diseases continued to claim a lot of lives.

He implored residents to undergo regular check-ups since most of the diseases were silent killers.

Dr Madigele said an influx of people and interaction was expected at the construction site and therefore called for precautions against HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted illnesses.

He also urged the contractor to take good care of the environment during the course of the project.

For his part, Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development Mr Vincent Seretse said the P419 million facility was a fully-fledged hospital while an additional P65 million would be used to build staff houses.

He said the ministry was committed to ensuring that the project would be completed by March 2022 and within budget.

He appealed to the contractor to engage locals as a way of empowering citizens.

Mr Seretse encouraged residents to take advantage of opportunities during construction and beyond.

He underscored the need for cooperation between residents and the contractor to ensure smooth running of the project and also urged potential employees to be professional and avoid absconding from work.

For his part, the contractor representative Mr Steven Liu of Zhentai Group and Whitacon joint venture said he was confident the company would deliver a quality project within budget and time.

He expressed gratitude for having been honoured with a project of such magnitude, which would not only change the village’s landscape but also improve the lives of the people.

The project would create employment during and after completion thereby enhancing the economy of the village.

Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Mr Karabo Gare said he was glad that the long-awaited hospital had finally come to pass.

He said the project had been in the last three national development plans but had to be deferred due to financial constraints.

He commended President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi for his efforts in advocating for the project.  ENDS