25 Feb 2021

 Head of District Health Management Team (DHMT) in Kanye, Dr Christopher Chembe, has underscored the need for collective efforts in ensuring minimal transmission of COVID-19.

Addressing tribal leaders in Kanye on Wednesday, Dr Chembe said the overwhelming cases of COVID-19 had forced government to adopt home isolation since isolation centres were full.

“In the Southern District, we have an isolation centre in Jwaneng with 70 beds, but we are now experiencing high positive cases which are beyond that capacity,” he said.

Consequently, she said they embarked on a consultation process to get stakeholders on board for home isolation to be a success.

”We acknowledge the role you play as gatekeepers in the community and therefore the health ministry find it appropriate to consult with you to help us deliver good quality health services to the people,” he said.

He noted that home isolation would only apply to asymptomatic patients while those with signs and symptoms of the virus would be admitted in isolation facilities. 

However, he noted that home-isolated patients who developed complications would be immediately taken to isolation facilities for close monitoring and care. 

Additionally, Dr Chembe aknowledged that home isolation had its own challenges especially for homes with shortage of space. 

He also noted that some asymptomatic patients used this as a loophole to move around, thereby putting the community at risk of infection. 

He said this was dangerous since people who did not show any symptoms were also likely to transmit the virus.

He urged residents to meet the already overwhelmed government halfway, by creating space for home-isolated patients the same way they did with nursing mothers. 

He also emphasised the need for discipline and understanding within household to ensure that the strategy was a success.

For his part, Mr Tshegofatso Mere underscored the need for clear communication between tribal leaders and health providers for improved monitoring and management of the pandemic. 

He said this would help keep an eye on home-quarantined patients to prevent spreading the virus to rest of the community.

He further said they were concerned about wedding and funeral attendants who failed to adhere to COVID-19 protocols.

“People are still reluctant to stick to short programmes and as dikgosi we do not have much powers in that regard,” he said.

Mr Pulahela Ntwayagae also raised concern about people who failed to adapt to the new normal as the regulations dictated. ends