17 Apr 2020

Government is grateful for the support China continues to render towards the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, deputy permanent secretary responsible for health services management in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr Morrison Sinvula has said.

Speaking at a ceremony to receive the second consignment of medical supplies from the Jack Ma and Ali Baba foundations at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport on April 16, Dr Sinvula said the supplies would go a long way towards assisting the country to be better equipped in efforts to overcome COVID-19.

“This is the third consignment we have received from China. The second from Chinese businessman Mr Jack Ma’s foundation featuring test kits and medical protective clothing. The first we had already received came from the Chinese government. This shows that the Chinese people are friends indeed, and their assistance will go a long way in assisting us to become better prepared as we continue to combat COVID-19,” Dr Sinvula said.

The latest donation consists of two ventilating machines, 36 thermometer guns, 18 912 extraction kits, 18 900 swabs and viral transport mediums, 10 320 masks,  9 500 medical gloves, 3 800 face shields as well as 3 700 medical protective clothing equipment.

Dr Sinvula said unlike other countries, Botswana health authorities had never had complains about the quality of the donated equipment, and expressed confidence that the latest supplies would also be of a good standard.

He further revealed that the country currently had enough protective clothing for frontline health staff involved in the fight against COVID-19.

He, however, said should the situation prevail for a prolonged period, additional supplies would be needed.

“The key equipment in this regard are masks and gloves, which we have adequate supplies of. You have to be careful not to think that everyone needs to be wearing body suits, but if the situation takes a longer period and people become sick we may need extra equipment,” said Dr Sinvula.

He also said Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital, which is the country’s main facility for handling COVID-19 cases, has been furnished with staff and medical equipment to manage the illness.

“The Sir Ketumile Masire facility is a 450-bed hospital and what we are currently using is the infectious disease unit. 

We have been handling 14 cases, which is about half the capacity of that unit, and if need be we could open other units, but what we are doing is to manage the cases we currently have.  We are managing the illness there and if the patients recover we intend to get them out,” Dr Sinvula said.

He added that the most important strategy for the country was to contain the spread of coronavirus and avoid having the health system to deal with many cases.

He said government hoped that the rollout of community testing would yield positive results in further managing the illness. ENDS