18 Feb 2021

Government has employed 76 paramedics who have been trained by Boitekanelo College, the Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe has said.

Responding to a question in Parliament on Wednesday, Mr Lelatisitswe said of the 76 paramedics trained, 19 are Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians (AEMTs) at a Diploma Level, while 57 are Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) basic at a certificate level.

He also highlighted that about 90 paramedics had been employed in the private sector, including the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB), which employed 15 of the EMTBs.

Furthermore, the assistant minister said in the past five years, government had trained four emergency care providers (paramedics). 

Two had completed their training, while the remaining two are still undergoing training in Australia through government sponsorship.

He stated that there were two other officers who had been trained for a Diploma in Emergency Care Technology by Boitekanelo College in the last five years.

“They have each been issued practising license by Botswana Health Profession Council,” he added.

Mr Lelatisitswe said the ministry had planned to train four in-service paramedic officers in the next five years subject to availability of funds.

Bobonong Member of Parliament, Mr Taolo Lucas had asked the assistant minister to state the number of emergency care providers, specifically paramedics, who had been trained by government in the last five years.

The legislator also wanted to know the number of paramedics trained by Boitekanelo College in the last five years.

MP Lucas also enquired about the number of paramedics trained by the college who had been issued with practising certificates by the Botswana Health Professional Council during the same period.

The assistant minister was also to state the number of paramedics trained by the college, currently employed by government and the private sector.

Furthermore, the Bobonong legislator wanted to know the number of paramedics that government intended to train in the next five years.  Ends