24 Apr 2020

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Lemogang Kwape says companies that make contributions towards the government’s efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic are playing an important role that is highly appreciated by the state.

Receiving gifts on behalf of his ministry in Gaborone on Friday, April24, Dr Kwape said such companies were displaying exemplary virtues at a critical time.

The gifts are an extractor from Diagnofirm Medical Laboratories and 160 bags of oranges from hospitality firm, Cycad Palm.

The medical laboratory extractor, handed to the minister by Diagnofirm Director of Laboratory Services Mahomed Chand, on behalf of his company, would be used by the National Health Laboratory (NHL) to augment its tools.

Dr Kwape thanked the company for sacrificing what they had in order to augment equipment in the public sector, acknowledging that Diagnofirm still had use for such equipment in their laboratories. 

The minister also complemented the NHL staff for their work in the corona-virus testing process and urged them to soldier on even in difficult moments.

He noted that they could live to tell the tale of how at one point they were at the forefront of the country’s battle of defeating the scourge.

Dr Kwape said as health practitioners, they often encouraged the public to consume fruits and vegetables, and it was thus poignant that they were getting such a donation for the health workers to lead by example.

Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Setlhomo Lelatisitswe also commended the NHL, stating that he and a group of Members of Parliament who he had been quarantined with were impressed with how quick the results of testing had been availed, the same day they had been tested.

Cycad Palm Hospitality general manager, Mr Peter Bagwasi said they were donating the oranges through their subsidiary Seaara Guest Farm in Rasesa.

The oranges will be distributed to doctors and nurses in the frontline of the battle against COVID-19 pandemic.

He said with the winter season close, the period which was flu was normally prevalent, they saw it fit to donate oranges in order to assist in boosting the Vitamin C supply to medical staff. Ends