03 Sep 2020

Ministry of Health and Wellness will, during the remaining part of NDP 11 which runs from 2017 to 2023, construct four mini health centres at ports of entry, as a response to imported diseases.

Delivering a presentation of the ministry’s mid-term review under the social upliftment chapter, Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Edwin Dikoloti said the COVID-19 pandemic had demonstrated the need to increase resources and health services at international airports.

Therefore, Dr Dikoloti said the four mini health centres planned for the next financial year would be constructed at Sir Seretse Khama, PG Matante, Kasane and Maun international airports. “It is expected that successful implementation of these projects will consolidate and provide security for the country against importation of diseases since the afore-mentioned ports of entry will be designed to comply and meet international standards. 

Upon completion of these facilities, he said, the ministry would be able to conduct screening, testing and isolation of suspected cases of diseases, infections or viruses with ease.  

Further, Dr Dikoloti said through the Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan, the ministry would respond to new and emerging health needs, particularly to respond to the current COVID-19 pandemic as well as future disease outbreaks at ports of entry. This decision, he said, was aligned to the 58^th World Health Assembly, which adopted the International Health Regulations aimed at preventing and controlling the international spread of diseases and providing a public health response.

 Dr Dikoloti therefore said his ministry had since designated 12 points of entry where health inspections and COVID-19 screening would be conducted. 

Four of these areas are major international airports in Gaborone, Francistown, Maun and Kasane, while the other eight are commercial ground border crossings at Tlokweng, Ramatlabama, Ramokgwebana, Mamuno, Martins Drift, Kazungula Ferry, Kazungula and Pioneer.   

Further, he said the ministry was prioritising adherence to health standards, and had developed additional National Health Quality Standards as initially planned. 

He said priority shall be given to areas of pediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, pharmacy/pharmaceutical services, physiotherapy services, dietetic services, medical laboratory services, oncology services, psychiatric care and oral health services. Other priority services are eye care services, urology, general medical practice, hospices, palliative care services, radiology and diagnostics imaging services and occupational health service.  

For the programmes, he requested P4.5m. Regarding primary healthcare services strengthening, he proposed over P1.1bn, inclusive of expenditure of the first half of the plan. 

Projects to be funded include completion of clinics with and without maternity, upgrading of Letlhakeng Clinic to a primary hospital, construction of staff houses countrywide including the North West Ngami staff houses, Kweneng staff houses and MoHW houses procurement. 

Other projects are electrification of primary health facilities as well as construction of mini health centres at Sir Seretse Khama, PG Matante, Maun and Kasane airports. Dr Dikoloti proposed P2.1bn for construction of hospitals. 

Total Estimated Cost of P3.6bn was requested for programmes and projects of the ministry’s mid term review of NDP 11. Ends