16 Nov 2020

In preparation for increasing number of COVID-19 positive cases, Selebi Phikwe District Health Management Team (DHMT) has taken an initiative to refurbish the education centre hostels for use as COVID-19 regional isolation centre.

Greater Selebi Phikwe DHMT coordinator, Mr Bapaphi Mbulawa informed Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Edwin Dikoloti during a tour of the facility on Sunday that the 32-bed facility would assist the DHMT deal with issues of possible transmissions among family members. 

He said the majority of people who tested positive for COVID-19 had been isolated at home, hence could lead to transmission of the virus if not managed properly.

He said two gates would be opened to access the facility, one to be used by those who had recovered and the other by those who were active.

He said the facility was expected to have a staff complement of 22, which would comprise two doctors, two nurses, kitchen staff, drivers, cleaners, to mention a few.

He informed Dr Dikoloti that the construction of the reception area was still ongoing.

For his part, Selebi Phikwe Town Council mayor, Mr Lucas Modimana pleaded with Dr Dikoloti to lock down the COVID-19 zones during Christmas holidays.

He said Selebi Phikwe was home to some people residing in greater Gaborone, which had the highest number of positive cases, as a result if movement was not restricted across zones it was going to be challenging to contain the virus in greater Selebi Phikwe.He said Selebi Phikwe already had the highest HIV prevalence at 27.5 per cent, hence a lot of people already had a compromised immune system resulting in the need for the DHMT and the town leadership to do all in their power to mitigate against local transmissions.

Mr Modimana also suggested that people should go for mandatory COVID-19 tests before crossing over to other zones to curb the spread of the virus.

He said government already had a dream to revitalise the economy of Selebi Phikwe, as such if COVID-19 cases got out hand, it would cost the town heavily as government would be forced to shift attention to fighting COVID-19.

In addition, he called for the Ministry of health to deliver the planned Selebi Phikwe new hospital to ease congestion at the old hospital.

Meanwhile, Selebi Phikwe has registered 80 confirmed positive cases , 34 of which were active while 46 recovered.

Greater Selebi Phikwe is also in the process of establishing an isolation centre for COVID-19 at Mmadinare Senior Secondary School, where unoccupied hostels with close to 100 beds will be used to isolate those who test positive to COVID-19.

The 25-bed TB facility in Mmadinare will also be used to augment the isolation centres in the zone.

Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health and Welness, Mr Kabelo Ebineng said the new Selebi Phikwe project could not be delivered soon due to financial constraints and the fact that government was still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. ends