26 Aug 2013

Rotary Club of Gaborone has donated 1 200 treated mosquito nets to the Ngamiland District Health Management Team (DHMT) to be distributed to Shorobe, Sankoyo, Mababe, Khwai communities.

Speaking during the handover of mosquito nets, the president of the club, Mr Barry Evans said the donation would make a big difference in the lives of the communities as it would save lives of many.

He said the club was motivated by the pledge and commitment of the government through the Ministry of Health to eradicate Malaria in the country by 2015. He urged the communities to put the donation in good use and eliminate Malaria for good.

He said they bought the 1 200 treated mosquito nets in collaboration with Stanbic Bank which came forward as the main sponsor and also BIFM and Steinmetz had helped with mosquito net project. He wished the ministry a success in their efforts to fight Malaria in the country.

Giving a brief background of the club, Mr Evans said the Rotary Club of Botswana was the oldest rotary club in the country and it was actively involved in the development of Botswana, doing a large number of projects on the community level and donating money to projects.

He said some of the big projects included the refurbishment of the Deborah Retief Memorial Hospital in Mochudi, building the P2.5 million Kamogelo Day Care Centre in Mogoditshane, the P1.5 million  Stepping Stone Institute in Mochudi and the Bana Ba Keletso Orphans Day Care Centre which was completed at a total cost of P2 million.

“The contribution of our club to the Botswana community has been immense. We have provided many organizations and individuals with donations throughout Botswana”.  The deputy director in department of public health, Mr Setshwano Mokgweetsinyana said they are still in need of approximately 170 000 treated mosquito nets for distribution in five districts during 2013/14 period.

He thanked the club for their noble gesture and was hopeful that their collaboration that started way back would continue even beyond 2015 and also hoped that the contributions had inspired other potential partners to join the malaria elimination campaign.

For his part, Ngamiland DHMT coordinator, Dr Christopher Chembe thanked Rotary Club, highlighting that Malaria has been a concern in the district. He noted that they have realised that 90 per cent of the provided mosquito nets are under utilised.

He said they had seen a decline in cases of Malaria as compared to year 2008 where they recorded many cases. He said people used to die because of the disease but for the past three years, there were no deaths recorded except one that was recorded the beginning of this year.

Dr Chembe observed cases of Malaria occurred during rainy season adding that people in the district are at risk of developing severe malaria. He said most vulnerable group were pregnant women, children and the elderly but revealed that efforts had been made to prevent Malaria in the district.

He said some of the intervention they made as a team in the district covers community mobilization and public education on issues of Malaria and prevention. The team also follows strictly the pattern of reporting every case of Malaria to the ministry office in Gaborone. ENDS