01 Nov 2020

Debswana Jwaneng Mine has been applauded for complementing government’s efforts in uplifting the health and well-being of communities by constructing a multi-million pula health facility for the people of Maboane and surrounding areas.

Speaking during the ground- breaking ceremony to mark the commencement of Maboane Clinic construction on October 29, Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe said the private sector was supporting government to attain Vision 2036 priorities.

He said the Ministry of Health and Wellness was responsible for the pillar of Human and Social Development because good health and wellness were basic human rights and necessary conditions for human and socio-economic development.

Mr Lelatisitswe added that government was committed to ensuring that Batswana continued to have basic needs, which should propel them to prosper and live a decent life, hence Vision 2036, which is anchored on an overarching theme calling for achieving Prosperity For All.

The assistant minister further said despite the challenges for almost all governments to provide quality healthcare, Botswana had made tremendous strides in increasing access to health and wellness and ‘all this is thanks to efforts from partners such as Debswana.”

‘I must emphasise that the challenges we encounter as a nation can only be overcome if we unite as different stakeholders for the common good of our people as we always say ‘mabogo dinku a thebana’.

Mr Lelatisitswe applauded Debswana Jwaneng Mine for keeping their promise and forging ahead with the construction of Maboane clinic, which was conceived last year before the COVID-19 pandemic.

He implored the local lead contractor JumCorp to ensure that the project was constructed to the highest quality standards by avoiding use of sub-standard material, as well as delivered on time and within budget.

He said his ministry made submission under the NDP 11 for the construction of staff houses, medical equipment, furniture and an ambulance for the new clinic.

Jwaneng Mine general manager Mr Koolatotse Koolatotse said ‘a diamond is worthless if it does not improve lives and this is a testament of our unwavering commitment to the improvement of health care in our communities’.

Mr Koolatotse said the clinic came at a time when the unprecedented COVID-19 induced public health emergency had shown the need for more health facilities.

The general manager said upon completion, Maboane clinic would immediately help avoid severe overstretching of the existing medical facilities.

He added that access to health services was the cornerstone of successful response in a health crisis.

“This project is one of the latest examples of the close and enduring relationship we have with communities around us because it was initiated by members of the community.”

Mr Koolatotse said he was proud that the important Cut-9 legacy P11 million project would be delivered by JumCorp, a citizen owned company with experience in the construction of health facilities.

He said the project showed that communities around their area of operation had not been left out of the national infrastructure development agenda.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Kaisara Phuthego of Maboane said he was delighted that at last what they had been waiting for would now be started.

He said they had a happy relationship with Jwaneng Mine, as it had contributed immensely to the community of Maboane.

Kgosi Phuthego said the mine once donated an ambulance and a caravan for their clinic and were forever thankful and grateful for the support.

When giving welcome remarks, MP for Takatokwane, Mr Tshoganetso Leuwe applauded Debswana Jwaneng Mine for always fulfilling its promises.

He said the ground breaking for the construction of the clinic was a delivery of the promise as agreed last year.

Mr Leuwe said the clinic would add value to the village of Maboane and also Letlhakeng Sub-district and also served communities around it.

He asked the Ministry of Health and Wellness to make sure it delivered on the promise to build staff houses, more so that the clinic would take eight months to be completed. ENDS