25 Oct 2020

Pakistan Association of Botswana, has assisted residents of Sebele Ward in Gaborone with 23 reading glasses.

The association’s chairperson, Mr Ishtiqur Rehman Raja, said in interview that they intended to donate 40 reading glasses especially to the elderly, but the turn up was low.  

He said medical specialists who were all registered with Botswana Health Professional Council assisted residents.

He said, through permission by the Ministry of Health and Wellness ,they had since conducted the medical camps in Lephephe, Tshesebe and Parakarungu, among other places.  

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he said the association had to restrict its trips and in a day assisted few people unlike before.

At primary schools, he said the association provided motivational speeches during the price ceremonies.

Mr Rehman Raja highlighted that Lephephe Primary School, which had not been doing well in the PSLE, had since with motivation from the school head and support from the association ranked number one out of 90 primary schools in Kweneng District.

“Whenever there is a natural disaster, we call upon members to donate to the community and during lockdown, we donated about 14 tons of food to people; we assisted communities who could not get food from the government in areas such as Kanye, Molepolole, Gaborone, Gabane and Mmankgodi including those who were in quarantines,” he said.

He noted that they intended to conduct genda based violence camps (GBV) to educate people especially woman on their rights and responsibilities.

Councillor for Sebele Ward, Mr Austin Abraham, said the assistance resonated well with his plans of social corporate responsibility.

He said residents appreciated that a leader was not only concerned about economic life needs, but also about their health needs.

Mr Abraham said the assistance was not the first of its kind and was appreciated by residents.

Beneficiries; Mrs Itumeleng Moyo and Mr Juba Dodie said the ward did not have a clinic and as such got assistance from Sebele and Block 8 clinics.

“We however thank the association and the councilor for bringing this development to us. We urge those who received assistance to take the donation as a development effort.” Ends