07 Sep 2020

Minister for International Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Lemogang Kwape says availability and rational use of personal protective equipment (PPE) medical equipment and other commodities towards a successful response to the COVID-19 epidemic is a priority.

Dr Kwape who was answering a question in Parliament on behalf of the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Edwin Dikoloti said procurement and the issuance of these commodities to facilities and DHMT was informed by probabilities but mostly by actual case loads of the pandemic.

He noted that the current data indicated that the Greater Gaborone Zone accounted for more than 80 per cent of the reported cases, therefore the zone received a high proportion of commodities.

He said a 6 050 face shield masks were distributed in a period of two months, 9 216 non disposable goggles were distributed in six months while 6 534 examination gloves were distributed in a month and 5 966 surgical gloves were adequate for two weeks. He said Central Medical Stores was expecting 50 000 in September.

Meanwhile Dr Kwape noted that there were 40 adults ventilators in the public health facilities and 66 at Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital (SKMTH).

As for the infant ventilators in government hospitals across the country, he said there were 43 and 20 at SKMTH, adding that all ventilators were functional and ready for use. He further said there were 406 adult and 220 infants breathing circuits around the country. He said the ministry had a maintenance contract for ventilators which were inclusive of regular supply of consumable goods if the need arise.

Dr Kwape was responding to question from MP for Mahalapye West, Mr David Tshere who had asked the minister to state the number of face shield or goggles, N95 respirators, gloves and isolation gowns at different health facilities across the country per DHMT. BOPA