01 Jun 2021

The chairperson of the parliamentary committee on communications, works, transport and technology says it is worrisome that the Ministry of Health and Wellness is still in the process of procuring medical equipment for the Shakawe Primary Hospital. 

 Speaking during the committee’s visit to the hospital recently, Mr Aubrey Lesaso said the Ministry of Health and Wellness should have equipped the hospital for it to be functional. 

He noted that the tendering process took a long time, and that it would delay the operation of the hospital.

Mr Lesaso added that procuring medical equipment needed urgency because patients from the Okavango region accessed medical services as far as Maun, saying it was hectic given the distance and the bad state of the road.He said the successful completion of the project would improve access, reduce cost of referrals, improve quality of life and contribute to reducing morbidities and mortalities

Okavango DHMT head, Dr Bokwena Moali said medical equipment to be installed included dental, theatre and radiography.

She noted that only the TB ward was functional at Shakawe Primary Hospital, noting that it was used as an isolation centre for COVID-19 patients.

Meanwhile, the facility will offer services such as preventative and curative health services, sexual reproductive health services and diagnostic, pharmaceutical, mortuary and dentistry upon completion.

Construction of the P309 million 70-bed Shakawe hospital started in 2017 and was in two phases. The first phase comprised of the construction of the P60 million staff houses in 2015. ends