27 Mar 2020

Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) has been set aside as a quarantine centre.

Head of District Health Management Team (DHMT) for the Serowe/Palapye region, Dr Gobusaone Morupisi, said citizens and residents returning through the Martins Drift Border, would undergo screening at the border and be quarantined for 14-days at BIUST.

She said further screening and swab testing would also take place at BIUST for those in mandatory quarantine. Dr Morupisi said those found to have signs and symptoms of COVID-19 would be sent to the isolation centre at Old Sekgoma Hospital in Serowe.

The swab tests conducted by the DHMT, he said, would then be forwarded to Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital for further tests and analysis.

When giving a note, after touring the facility on Wednesday, the Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Sethomo  Lelatisitswe expressed gratitude to the health workers and civil service officials for the good job. He urged them to keep up the efforts, adding that they were in the front line in fighting this pandemic.

He noted that team work was essential in handling the disease and civil servants from the sub-district demonstrated that they worked in synergy to combat the disease.

Mr Lelatisitswe said he was impressed at the way the authorities and health workers were handling the situation so far. In addition he commended  BIUST vice chancellor, Professor Otlogetswe Totolo and his team for tassisting to combat the pandemic.

He also indicated that he expected all teams set up to combat the coronavirus to have their lines open and be online at all times to relay information to handle the disease accordingly.

He said at this point in time, it was every citizen’s responsibility, as an individual, to take precautions to prevent the spread of the disease. He also indicated that in order to overcome COVID-19, individuals must work as a team.

The assistant minister indicated that COVID-19 must be taken seriously, adding that it was a national concern and priority.

He explained that large economies were battling with the virus and had since been on lockdown and urged all to take responsibility and not to let this country find itself in such a state.

For her part, the Palapye Administrative Authority Chairperson, Ms Khumoyame Lekoko also noted that the sub-district and DHMT were working hand in hand to prevent the spread of the virus.

Ms Lekoko noted that dikgosi, vllage development committees and the public as well as in Palapye and other villages that fell under the sub-district, had been informed about the pandemic.

She called on parents to conduct lessons at home while schools were closed and also called on residents to abide by the prevention measures put in place, to stay safe.

Meanwhile, in an interview on Thursday, Dr Morupisi noted that the number of travelers quarantined at BIUST had increased from 41 to 106 from Wednesday night.

She noted that they are still expecting more travelers into the country through the Martin’s Drift Border gate, adding that more law enforcement officers were needed to monitor and control the situation accordingly, at both the border and the quarantine centre at BIUST. ENDS