09 May 2021

The Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe has assured Batswana that government has money to procure COVID-19 vaccine.

Speaking during a tour of Motokwe, Dutlwe and Khudumelapye health facilities on Friday, Mr Lelatisitswe said the delay to acquire the vaccine was due to the fact that supplier countries were also hard hit by coronavirus. He also said suppliers were overwhelmed by the demand for vaccine from many countries, something he said saw countries competing to get the vaccine first.

Mr Lelatisitswe further said they were expecting vaccine from India but it had been hard hit by the virus leading to export shutdown.

He said that Botswana had paid the USA for the vaccine but the US government has released a statement that it needed 400 million people vaccinated ‘and that on its own causes a delay.’

Furthermore, he said that COVID-19 had put pressure on health services as most resources were focused on fighting pandemic, leading to shortage of staff since some of them were assigned to COVID-19 vaccination and testing.

Mr Lelatisitswe implored those who had taken the first jab to alert health authorities on any side effects so that they were attended to. Kweneng District Health Management Team Coordinator, Dr Tom Baaisi said Kweneng West was made up of 16 health posts and eight clinics which provided health services to a population of more than 54 000 people. 

He said they were aware of some of the challenges faced by the health sector among them staff accommodation, shortage of space and maintenance of facilities.

Dr Baaisi added that they would do all that they could to remedy the situation bearing in mind that funds had been allocated to the fight of COVID-19.

Regarding the vaccination progress, Dr Baasi said they are 34 000 elders in Kweneng and 8 000 had received the vaccine, saying that he hoped that the next vaccination roll out would be enough for the population. 

Therefore, Dr Baaisi said registration should be ongoing until all are vaccinated.

Mr Seipone Siane, a nurse at Dutlwe said they were still challenged by shortage of staff, accommodation, protective clothing and dilapidated facilities.

Another nurse at Khudumelapye clinic, Mr Randy Motlhabanyane shared similar challenges adding that they needed transport for the clinic as their vehicle has been recommended for boarding. 

Kgosi Batho Tshoso of Motokwe village complained about the status of their clinic which is dilapidated and in need of  maintenance.

Kgosi Tuelo Ramokobotwane of Khudumelapye pleaded with government to upgrade their clinic to provide 24 hours service.

She said their clinic need to be upgraded and a maternity wing be added because most expectant mothers had no transport to access health services in Molepolole. 

Mr Lelatisitswe said the ministry would consult with Kweneng DHMT and see how they could address some of the challenges raised by village leaders.

When giving vote of thanks, Takatokwane MP, Mr Friction Leuwe said he was worried about maintenance of clinics in his constituency which takes longer than expected.

He said the trend showed that some people were sleeping on the job as Motokwe clinic was maintained a day prior to the visit by the assistant minister.

Mr Leuwe asked that for better health service provision, every clinic should have its own vehicle. He thanked the assistant minister for the tour of clinics as that would give him an idea of what is happening on the ground. Ends