15 Apr 2020

Scottish Livingstone Hospital superintendent, Dr Dayana Palai has urged Molepolole residents to avoid crowding at the hospital due to risks of contracting various diseases other than COVID-19.

Hundreds of patients had gathered at the hospital last week for various reasons, amongst them permits to see doctors in various facilities, medication and those who were booked at the hospital.

Speaking in an interview, Ms Moshate Kenaope said she was sent from pillar to post while requesting for a permit for her monthly check up and medication.

She said she initially went to the kgotla but was told to go to the clinic and from there she was referred to the hospital.

Mr Othusite Sechele also said he could not understand how they had to make a long queue to get a permit, adding that he needed one to enable him to be admitted at Princess Marina Hospital at Gaborone.

He wondered how it could be a long process as everything had been documented in his medical card.

For her part, Dr Palai said they experienced a high turnout because people could not access health facilities during the Easter break.

She explained that on top of the number of people seeking permits, there were some who had come to the pharmacy for medication while others were booked at the hospital.

Dr Palai noted that dikgosi and the district commissioner’s office no longer issued health related permits.

She further explained that in some circumstances they offered relatives permits as well where patients needed extra support.

The superintendent said in the wake of coronavirus and other diseases, it was advisable for people not to come to the hospital in large numbers as they could easily be affected or affect other patients.

Dr Palai further said out-patients from Princess Marina and Sbrana were attended locally, hence the increase in the numbers. ends