12 Jan 2021

Member of Parliament for Ramotswa constituency, Mr Lefoko Moagi, has commended police officers and health workers for their role in the fight against COVID-19.

Mr Moagi, who is also the Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, said this during a tour of Ramotswa police and Bamalete Lutheran Hospital (BLH) on Monday.

Mr Moagi said the police were crucial in fight against the pandemic since they enforced health protocols and ensured that other related regulations were  adhered to.

He said police officers deserved to be commended for their task, despite the challenges they encountered when enforcing the law.

The MP said the police were faced with challenges such as shortage of staff accommodation and risks posed by border jumpers among others.

For is part, Superintendent Keoagile Tau of Ramotswa Police Station said police were doing their best to enforce the law and play their part in protecting the country from COVID 19.

However, he said they still faced challenges from some who disregard the curfew regulations and COVID-19 health protocols, adding that there were also persistent cases of illegal border jumpers.

Supt. Tau however said they continue to patrol the border fence to curb the problem, which was further compounded by the dilapidated border fence.

He further told the minister that there are currently 194 officers under his policing area, adding that the number could have been more had it not been to shortage of accommodation.

At BLH, the area Member of Parliament said the hospital was core to the wellbeing of the constituency members and the fight against the virus.

He said health workers have been at the forefront of fighting the pandemic, notwithstanding that there were health risks, saying that their sacrificial efforts could not be overlooked on the mere fact that they were doing their job. 

He said some people had opted to quit the job to safeguard their safety.

During comments, staff noted that there was no follow-up process for patients who report having flu-like symptoms after they had been referred to Malope Clinic.

As such, the staff suspected some would go home or report to the nearest clinic and conceal the symptoms they could have divulged during the interview at BLH.

Other staff said there was a need for counseling for those staff members infected by the virus. Ends