24 Nov 2020

 Boteti Sub-district has spent P38 million on COVID-19 response matters.

Giving an update on health services and COVID-19 on Monday, the sub-district Chairperson, Mr Molemi Galeragwe, said drug shortage remained a challenge with drug availability currently at 78 per cent against the 95 per cent target.

To mitigate the situation, he said micro-procurement and use of alternative drugs was practiced. Further, he said 15 health care workers were temporarily recruited to augment staff in COVID-19 activities.

He noted that a total of 10 694 COVID-19 tests were performed out of which 10 556 were negative and to date, there were 138 confirmed cases with 128 recoveries whilst seven were active and no deaths had been recorded.

A total of 1 167 patients, he said were quarantined with 255 in institutions and 912 in home quarantine. Moreover a total of 124 clients were in isolation, 110 in facility isolation and 14 in home isolation.

Regarding COVID-19 protocols, Mr Galeragwe emphasised that violation of the protocols was still a problem, saying that the police had registered 517 cases in quarter two comprising of unlawful traditional brewing and drinking liquor in prohibited places.

He further said that with the subsequent economic and social disruptions, the aim was to continue concentrating their efforts to safe guard the nation, to stabilise the economy and emerge from the pandemic even stronger.

The council chairperson stated that in September, government adopted the Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan (ERTP) which was a mid-term review addendum allocated P14.5 billion to further reboot and cushion the economy and Boteti benefitted budget allocation of a primary school in Letlhakane located at Phase two extension.

On other issues, Mr Galeragwe said that the revised CEDA guidelines, which offered concessionary lending terms and longer payment periods that would prioritise agro-processing, construction, technology and innovation, energy, manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, mining, and creative industry were priority sectors.

Therefore, he said it was crucial to raise awareness and empower the local community to venture in to the above mentioned sectors.

According to Mr Galeragwe, the aim was to transform Boteti into a preferred community-led tourism and food processing investment hub.

He indicated that kick starting of Khwee ranches and small stock was anticipated to improve livelihoods.

Stock theft, he said was however an impediment to their efforts, as 23 cases were recorded where 87 livestock were stolen. ENDS