03 Mar 2021

The Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe says Botswana does not have a cancer hospital, but the country has four hospitals offering such healthcare services.

Responding to a question in Parliamenton Tuesday, Mr Lelatisitswe said these were Nyangabgwe, Princess Marina, Sekgoma and Letsholathebe hospitals.

The ministry also refers patients to private hospitals such as Gaborone Private Hospital, Sedilega and Francistown Teaching Hospital.

The assistant minister said since 2008, about 886 patients had lost their lives due to cancer, with 173 of them dying at Princess Marina. He said in 2009, about 777 people died with 162 dying while under care at Princess Marina.

Mr Lelatisitswe said seven per cent of deaths in the country were caused by cancer, adding that there were different types of cancer.

There are 20 beds at the Princess Marina Hospital to accomodate cancer patients.

The assistant minister said government had no plans to construct a hospital for cancer, but was planning to extend the current ward.

He said six nurses had been trained in oncology; three at Marina, two at UB School of Nursing and the other one had been placed at the Francistown Teaching Hospital.

Mr Lelatisitswe said the ministry had planned to take a number of nurses for training, but it had been constrained by financial challenges.

Member of Parliament for Gaborone Bonnington South, Mr Christian Greef had asked the minister to state the number of cancer hospitals in the country and the number of patients who died since 2018 at Princess Marina and other hospitals.

He further wanted the minister to state the number of wards for cancer patients at Princess Marina.

Mr Greef also wanted to know if the minister had any plans to increase the wards for cancer patients or to build a hospital for the cancer patients.

He also asked the minister to state the number of nurses trained in oncology in Botswana and where they were stationed. ENDS