29 Mar 2021

Located nine kilometres from Tonota, Ditladi is a small village whose residents survive on limited basic necessities as few developments mean few employment prospects.

The issue of scarce means of survival in the village play a leading role in exacerbating increase of HIV/AIDS and the Coronavirus, the two factors that continue to be a threat to the country’s economy.

Though the village was not hard hit by the effects of COVID-19, its threat still remains worrisome as some individuals continue to ignore health protocols. Only two health workers in the local clinic are responsible for attending to medical issues of residents from Ditladi and Patayamatebele.

Principal registered nurse, Mr Itumeleng Garelebone, says they [two nurses] interchangeably share daily nursing duties so as to be able to do other non-core nursing activities that could help the small community of the two villages.

He said since the country first recorded the virus, the village had recorded only 12 cases of Coronavirus, with 11 recoveries and 1 active.

“With only us attending to testing for COVID-19, consultations and referrals, we saw it necessary to involve other stakeholders in the village such as Village Development Committee (VDC), Kgosi, Botswana Police Service, Shashe Brigade and Ditladi Primary School to assist in tackling these issue,” he said.

He noted that team work was critical in ensuring that residents abided by COVID-19 protocols, further explaining that most cases were recorded after lockdown from residents who commuted to and from Francistown on a daily basis for work purposes.

Mr Garelebone said in the beginning residents were cautious and observed health protocols when the first case was recorded in the village, but with time they had become complacent. 

He said though people were aware of the impact of the deadly virus, somehow they down played the threat and believed masks alone were sufficient to protect them from COVID-19.

“Not only a mask can protect you, but there seems to be no social distancing in the only village bus, which risks being a super spreader, compromising lives and health of commuters to and from the city,” he added.

He also urged the use of sanitizers as a way of saving lives. On issues relating to HIV/AIDS, he said the issue was mostly covered by his fellow nurse, explaining that the spread of HIV was mainly due to lack of education as some still could not read and write.

He said the other main contributor was alcoholism, which led to some making uninformed and irresponsible decisions that helped spread the virus. Another factor, he said, was lack of proper parental guidance, leading to some minors roaming the village at night.

He reasons that with proper leadership and control, underage children would not rush into being sexually active. 

As a way to tackle the two issues, he said with assistance from health care education assistants, they intended on campaigns in schools to raise awareness.

He said through such interactions with the residents, they hoped to flatten the curve and the spread of both viruses. ENDs