05 Jan 2021

Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Mr Kabelo Ebineng, says unity is critical to the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

Briefing the media in Gaborone on Monday, Mr Ebineng said  community structures such as village development committees, dikgosi, local, regional and national leaders needed to work together in the fight against COVID-19.

He indicated that behavior change was vital, adding that his ministry has shifted from curative to preventive care that  was possible through behavior change

“What a single person does can ultimately affect the whole nation,” he added.

Mr Ebineng said preventive care could assist in cutting costs, highlighting that limited resources used in cure, could be used elsewhere to develop the nation.

Pertaining to extension of curfew, he said it was established that during the holidays some people turned a blind eye to curfew and COVID-19 protocols, which put the nation’s health at risk hence the need for extension to save  lives.

For his part, acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Oshinka Tsiang indicated that information dissemination was vital in the fight against the pandemic, adding that cases of spreading fake news should be addressed.

He also indicated that compliance to COVID-19 protocols was important since resources used in this fight could be employed elsewhere to develop the country.

Mr Tsiang noted that different government departments should share resources where necessary, such as vehicles in the fight against COVID-19. ends