16 Nov 2020

Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Edwin Dikoloti says his ministry is devising a plan for festive season with a view to restrict movements to prevent a spike of COVID-19 cases.

Speaking in an interview following a tour of health facilities in Bobonong constituency, Saturday, where he assessed and appreciated health infrastructure, Dr Dikoloti revealed that the plan for the festive season would be released in about two weeks.

The minister said that a lot of things would have to change going into the festive season to curb potential spike in COVID-19 cases. Dr Dikoloti made a clarion call for Batswana to accept the unusual festive season.

“Batswana have to accept that these are tough times,” said Dr Dikoloti who pleaded with Batswana not to be worried about spending Christmas break away from their loved ones.

Dr Dikoloti appealed to Batswana, especially from the red zones, to sacrifice and shelve their holiday plans by remaining at their current bases as a COVID-19 containment measure.

The minister reiterated the call for people to remain at their homes and go out when it was necessary, arguing that when people remained in one place the virus would not spread.

To further clarify his call for Batswana to remain at their bases, Minister Dikoloti said that it was discovered that some older population that succumbed to COVID-19 had some underlying conditions and hence people from red zones posed risks to the population in question.

Dr Dikoloti, who is also Mmathethe/Molapowabojang MP suggested that people in places like Gaborone could just call their parents and assure them of their good health.

Further, those seeking to assist parents could just send them money to avoid physical contact.

Earlier when touring health facilities in Mathathane, Molalatau and Bobonong, Dr Dikoloti appealed to village leaderships to take a lead in combating COVID-19.

He said that since dikgosi could ride on the power and respect they yield from their subjects to spread COVID-19 messages.

Dr Dikoloti found that countries that performed well in containing the pandemic had their models anchored around community participation in the fight against the virus. Ends