29 Mar 2020

In the wake of the  Covid-19 pandemic, visiting hours at Molepolole’s Scottish Livingstone Hospital have been reduced.

Briefing the media on March 27 in Molepolole, acting hospital superintendent Dr Dayana Palai said visiting time had been reduced to half an hour.  

The number of visiting times in a day has also been reduced from four to three times a day.

Morning visits will be from 7am to 7:30am and from 1pm to 1:30 pm.  

Evening visits have also been altered to 7pm to 7:30pm.  

There will no longer be 4pm visits.

Dr Palai stressed that the number of visitors had also been reduced and two visitors would be allowed to alternate during a single visiting period.  

Moreover, she stated that entry points at the hospital had since been reduced to two.  

The same arrangement will be carried out at Thamaga Primary Hospital, she said.

She further explained that staff would control movement of the crowd at each entry point and quick screening would take place.  

This include temperature detection, hygienic measures such as hand washing at entry points then at the help desk a quick travelling history is to be recorded.  
Once patients are screened they will then issued with coupons.  
The coupons will help the staff  to organize patients according to where each will be assisted.
She said queues were organised in such a way that social distancing would be maintained.
Since Scottish Hospital has been designated to be the Southern region centre for eye specialists, the hospital has taken measures to do block booking for different departments including the eye and dental clinic.
Referrals from Thamaga are  well coordinated and follow a standard operation procedure and communicate from facility to facility for the purpose of block bookings.

Dr Palai further clarified that there was an isolation facility within the hospital because of the need for preparedness in case any visitor is suspected to be infected.   

The facility is an isolated area with clear signages.  

She emphasised that only staff was allowed at the facility.  

Suspected patients will use designated entrance to ensure proper control at the facility.

Meanwhile, coordinator for Kweneng Regional Health Management Team Ms Chipo Petlo announced that two lodge owners in Molepolole have pledged their facilities to be used as quarantine sites.  

Other facilities designated for quarantining are Molepolole Institute of Health Sciences (HIS) and Molepolole College of Education (MCE) in anticipation of an over spill from Gaborone.

The hospital manager Mr Abednigo Mafoko said the water situation at Scottish Livingstone Hospital has greatly improved after Thamaga got connected to the North South Carrier pipeline.  

He also said the Water Utilities Corporation bowses  water to the facility on a daily basis to augment the main water supply. ENDS