24 Nov 2020

Coordinator of greater Selebi Phikwe District Health Management Team, Mr Mpaphi Mbulawa, has challenged all to help combat COVID-19.

When updating councillors during a Bobirwa Sub-district opening session, Mr Mbulawa spoke against the notion of living with the virus rather calling for ‘avoiding it with the aim of kicking it out’ of communities.

Mr Mbulawa appealed to civic leaders to educate their electorate about COVID-19, emphasising that the virus was spread by people.

A worried man, Mr Mbulawa showed that a regional graph was ticking high, revealing that greater Selebi Phikwe region registered 8-10 cases a day while Bobonong cluster registered about three cases daily. 

Greater Selebi Phikwe region consist merger of Bobirwa District Health Management Team with Selebi Phikwe District Health Management Team. 

The resultant Greater Selebi Phikwe region was then divided into three clusters of Mmadinare, Bobonong and Selibe Phikwe. 

As of November 23, the Greater Selebi Phikwe had registered 184 covid-19 cases. Of these 184 cases 94 were from Selibe Phikwe, 63 from Bobonong and 27 from Mmadinare clusters. 

108 patients recovered whilst three died, according to the coordinator. 

Two of the deceased were brought already dead whilst one died in Mmadinare, Mr Mbulawa reported.

The greater Selibe Phikwe region reported its first case, imported, in July, at Moletemane village through a border jumper. The case was managed at Bobonong Primary Hospital.

Although he drummed support for the fight against the pandemic, Mr Mbulawa informed the bylaw makers that, “We’re extremely compromised on isolation facilities.”

Consequently, the coordinator revealed that some patients were isolated at home, of course with constant visit from healthcare officers to ensure compliance. 

Statistics showed that there was a spike in local transmission of the virus, a concern that the coordinator wanted addressed.

“Transmission is ongoing in our communities and it is rapid,” Mr Mbulawa said and revealed that all cases were managed within greater Selibe Phikwe region.

Relating the shortage of isolation facilities, the coordinator stated that Bobonong had only four beds available for isolation at the hospital, Mmadinare had eight beds while Selebi Phikwe had eight.

However, to augment the numbers, Mr Mbulawa revealed that they had renovated Selebi Phikwe Education Centre which will avail 32 beds. 

The centre will be used as a regional isolation facility.

He also revealed that following the tour by Minsiter of Health and Wellness Dr Edwin Dikoloti and his permanent secretary Mr Kabelo Ebineng, a plan was hatched to repurpose Mmadinare Senior Seconday School where 100 beds would be yielded. 

At the moment, Mr Mbulawa informed councilors that tests from his jurisdiction were conducted at Palapye where 80 per cent of the results were availed within 24 hours.

On other cases, Mr Mbulawa warned that despite some borders opening on December1, the arrangement ‘will not come cheap.’ He informed that travelers will be required to self-quarantine at own costs amongst other things.

On other health matters, Mr Mbulawa informed councilors that the region had already registered three cases of Malaria. He cleared that Malaria was endemic in greater Selibe Phikwe region. 

However, the coordinator highlighted that many houses have already been residually sprayed indoors where there was little refusals compared to the past. 

Mr Mbulawa said that where there were improper structures, like at cattleposts, which rendered spraying a difficulty, his region will distribute mosquito nets. Ends