21 Jul 2020

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has received the fifth clinic and a cheque of P2.5 million for Covid-19 Relief Fund, both donated by the A.S. Dada Foundation in Kumakwane on July 17.

President Masisi said he was elated to receive yet another noble gesture by the Dada family on behalf of Kumakwane residents.

The President  said the A.S. Dada Kumakwane clinic, built with over P7 million, would not only make the residents happy, but  would also go a long way in complementing government’s efforts and commitment to improving the country’s healthcare delivery system.

Furthermore, he expressed gratitude over the spirit of generosity displayed by the Dada foundation over the years, ensuring that government delivered quality health services to the people.

“I am graterul to note that this is the fifth clinic donated by the A.S. Dada Foundation to our communities over the last 13 years and this has gone a long way in assisting government’s resolve to bring health services closer to communities,” he said.

President Masisi stated that provision of healthcare remained government’s top priorities.  

To this end,  he said government had embraced the global call to pursue Universal Health Coverage and Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) in the context of attaining the Sustainable Development Goals.  

Moreover, he said the construction of health facilities across the country by government was ongoing and projects were at different levels of completion.

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Lemogang Kwape also commended the A.S. Dada Foundation for strengthening the healthcare delivery system in the country.  

The new clinic, he said, was the 63rd health facility in Kweneng.

Further, he indicated that Kumakwane to date was serviced through a health post, which had its own limitations although it offered many important services.  

He mentioned that government’s efforts to upgrade it to a clinic during the National Development Plan (NDP) 11 failed because of budgetary constraints.

For this reason, Minister Kwape expressed delight, saying the donation came at the right time for the benefit of Kumakwane residents.

The facility comprises an Outpatient Clinic with a reception, screening room, three general consultation rooms, dressing, injection, child welfare clinic, an observation room as well as a maternity ward, among others.  

He said with the many amenities, he did not have any doubt that the clinic would assist his ministry in achieving its vision of A Healthy Nation by 2023.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness contributed in the furnishing and equipping of the clinic.

Other planned improvements include the construction of staff houses, procurement of an ambulance and additional medical equipment, which have all been provided for in the NDP 11.

For his part, chairperson of the A.S. Dada Foundation and Motor Centre Group, Mr  Abdul Satar Dada said the clinic had come about after the Ministry of Health and Wellness identified the need of a clinic in Kumakwane and Gabane. 

He said the clinic was part of their corporate social responsibility,  adding that as corporate citizens, they owed it to government to assist where they could.

“We are of the view that the PPP policy must be promoted more aggressively to enable us to facilitate our willingness to partner with government,”  he said.

Mr Dada further stated that the clinic was different from the previous ones since it  had  a maternity ward, which they believed was  needed by the growing population to help reduce the number of trips to Gaborone to seek medical care.

The A.S. Dada Foundations has also built clinics in Kanye, Molepolole, Bontleng in Gaborone and now Kumakwane. 

In attendance at the handover ceremony was former president  Dr Festus Mogae, Minister of Investment Trade and Industry, Ms Peggy Serame as well as Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mr Mpho Balopi and other senior government officialss. ends