10 Jun 2020

Greater Francistown District Health Management Team coordinator, Ms Bayengemali Munyere said compliance to COVID-19 health protocols in the Tonota Sub-Distric was remarkable.

Ms Munyere told Tonota Sub-District council full session that they managed to conduct house to house education activities where they relayed health messages, particularly those related to COVID-19.

She noted that they worked hand in hand with the Tonota leadership to conduct public education, which went smoothly.

The DHMT coordinator said they reached villages and cattle posts in Tonota constituency, assisting people with condoms and Zinc Sulphate.

The campaigns also covered shops and the bus rank, she added.

Ms Munyere said that 70 to 80 per cent of the churches that were visited were found to be complying with the COVID -19 regulations including observing social distancing of one metre.

She however raised concern about  people from neighbouring countries who enter through un-gazetted points citing that this might place Batswana at the risk of contacting  coronavirus.

She urged Batswana to report incidents of illegal entry to the police so that such people could be sent back to their countries.

In response to DHMT’s presentation, Councillor Mbakiso Mazonga of Borolong said there was no running water at Borolong Clinic, something he said could defeat government efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that there were only two pit latrines shared with the public and no hand washing basins.

Cllr for Majwana, Mr Jeremiah Franzel said there was water shortage at Jamataka and Natale villages.

He urged government to assist some of the small churches with subsidy as they did not have income to purchase some of the equipment required  to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Nominated Councilor Baemedi Medupe wanted to know if there was a two hour break for buses to allow for disinfection of the buses.

Cllr Shima Monageng of Tonota East wanted to know if the thermometers met the required standard.

Cllr Monageng also wanted to know if the infra-red rays from the thermometers were not dangerous.

Cllr Gaefele Sedombo of Tonota South East asked if issuing of condoms during the lockdown was not defeating the purpose of social distancing.

In response, DHMT Coordinator Ms Munyere said that Water Utilities Corporation was instructed to reconnect and provide water to all countrywide.

Ms Munyere said the Botswana Medical Regulatory Authority (BOMRA) and Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) were tasked with ensuring that thermometers meet the required standards.

She said that the electronic rays were of a level not harmful to human beings.

Sub-district council chairman and also councillor for Tonota Central, Mr Christjan Machokoto said children were not allowed in some shops and suggested that contact tracing could be done through cellphones of their parents.

Cllr Machokoto said leaving a child with people or security guards outside shops was risky. Ends