08 Aug 2021

As part of interventions to address the dire need for oxygen supply for COVID-19 patients in the country, a 25-tonne oxygen tank has been installed at Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital (SKMTH). 

In a statement to Parliament Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Edwin Dikoloti said initially, SKMTH could only supply oxygen to 100 patients, but the number would increase to 195. 

Dr Dikoloti said as of last week, the hospital admission stood at about 120 patients, which meant that the hospital could still afford to admit 75 more patients. 

He further stated that an additional oxygen generating plant was installed at Princess Marina Hospital and was expected to be functional mid-August. 

He also said the new Shakawe Primary Hospital that would be opened for public use before the end of the year, had an oxygen generating plant in place and the hospital and was currently being used as a COVID-19 isolation centre. 

Dr Dikoloti added that to further capacitate SKMTH, funds had been availed for the recruitment of 50 nurses, 40 health auxiliaries and 15 medical doctors. 

He said in cases where regular doctors were unable to perform their duties, the hospital had been allowed to engage private practitioners on a locum basis and that recruitment of such personnel was ongoing with some having already taken their offer letters. 

In addition, he said the hospital was currently undertaking an assessment of its overall capabilities, with a view to increasing the beds that had access to oxygen supply. 

Dr Dikoloti stated that two referral hospitals, Princess Marina and Nyangabgwe, would also be recruiting 50 nurses each and that 40 nurses would also be recruited for the Greater Gaborone DHMT and another 40 for the Greater Francistown DHMT. 

As for the Scottish Livingstone Hospital in Molepolole, he stated that 30 nurses would be recruited, with about 47 medical interns who had just graduated from the University of Botswana being posted to some of the health facilities once they had regularised their registration with the Botswana Health Professions Council. 

He said other health facilities, would also be given additional staff to augment frontliners who were currently severely overworked. 

Parliament also learnt that the Selebi Phikwe DHMT had partnered with BCL hospital to complement each other so that there was no disruption of health services during this critical time and that BCL would supply oxygen. 

Furthermore, he said the Greater Francistown DHMT had adopted a similar partnership with the private sector and that other leading district hospitals such as Mahalapye, Scottish, Sekgoma Memorial and Letsholathebe II Memorial had 25 to 30 tonnes oxygen tanks which were fully functional.

 “Some oxygen companies have been engaged to fill them up as and when there is a need and the same applies to Princess Marina and Nyangabgwe referral hospitals,” he said. Regarding other hospitals across the country, Dr Dikoloti stated that in July, the ministry awarded a tender for oxygen supply to all its health facilities and that the contract would run for three years. 

In that regard, he said in view of the increased demand for oxygen, the two companies had been requested to increase their supply capacity to offset any shortfalls. He said the ministry had also issued an expression of interest (EOI) to supply, install and commission medical oxygen generating plants at all its primary hospitals and that the tender closed on July 27, with evaluation process being commenced and expected before the end of this month. 

Dr Dikoloti said an emergency request for quotation was also issued last week for the supply of 150 of 10-15 litres per minute oxygen concentrators.

 He said the requirement was to have local companies supply stock that was locally available to complement the current oxygen availability situation. To date, he said 261 locally available 10-litre per minute oxygen concentrators had been delivered and distributed to health facilities to augment oxygen supply in high dependency areas. 

With the home-based care strategy for most COVID-19 patients, he said, the ministry was in the process of purchasing more oxygen concentrators for those requiring mild to moderate oxygen supply, especially in home or community isolation. 

“This strategy is aimed at averting progression in lung and vital organ damage which is common among COVID-19 patients lacking adequate supply of oxygen. The strategy can also help avert possibilities of ICU admissions and even death,” he stressed. 

Parliament also learnt that the health ministry was working in collaboration with the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) not only to augment and sustain oxygen supply, but to also increase hospital admission levels. 

As such, he stated, the BDF health facilities at SSKB and Thebephatshwa, would also be supplied with two oxygen generating plants, noting that the BDF had a 120-bed capacity field hospital, which the ministry would supply with oxygen concentrators. 

Dr Dikoloti added that Sidilega Private Hospital was also erecting a 30-bed field hospital complete with adequate oxygen supply and the facility was expected to be operational in six weeks. 

He said the World Health Organisation (WHO) recently availed 10 oxygen concentrators which had already been distributed to Gaborone and Lobatse COVID-19 treatment facilities. 

Debswana also donated 10 oxygen concentrators which were also sent to health facilities. The De Beers Group donated 10 oxygen concentrators which have since been distributed to COVID-19 treatment centres in Boteti, SSKB and Selebi Phikwe areas. 

Chinese Embassy in Gaborone has supplied eight oxygen concentrators and 20 ventilators which were in the process of being distributed as well. ENDS