27 May 2021

In line with the new reset priorities announced by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi recently, government was willing to support any effort geared towards the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Edwin Dikoloti said this when visiting a local personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturer, Medical Devices Botswana in Tlokweng on Wednesday.

Dr Dikoloti said the visit was his first stopover in a number of several visits planned to PPE manufacturers to appreciate what they were doing to assist government in the fight against the pandemic.

He said Batswana businesses were top of government’s priorities and it was important to understand their successes, shortcomings and ambitions going forward.

“What you are doing here is an important linkage to the health value chain and government has no intention of buying anything outside that we can do here.

The value addition in your line of business has not been that much significant and we intend to support you as important stakeholders to our ministry,” he said.

Minister Dikoloti said he was hopeful that Botswana would produce more companies in the health industry that would enlist even outside the country.

He encouraged other players in the business industry to support efforts made by companies such as Medical Devices Botswana.

For his part, Director of Medical Devices Botswana, Dr Thato Kgosimotho appreciated the support they were getting from government and other private entities.

He said his company started the manufacturing of medical consumables in 2018 with a permanent staff complement of 13.

He said they offered provision of affordable medical devices for the country, together with pharmaceutical services.

The company’s products include PPEs, gowns, surgical masks, surgical gloves and mop caps among others. ENDS