12 Aug 2021

The Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) yesterday donated 35 blankets to Athlone Hospital. 

Area MP, Dr Thapelo Matsheka, who is also minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development almost matched the donation when he presented the hospital with 30 more blankets, bringing the total to 65. 

Dr Matsheka noted hospitals around the country were struggling with shortage of beds, blankets, chairs and drugs owing to the deteriorating COVID-19 situation which had resulted in a sharp increase in hospitalisations thereby stretching government resources. 

"Your donation will assist patients who are admitted in this hospital," he told the OAIC. 

OAIC Lobatse Sub Chapter chairman, Bishop David Relemogeng said the donation was part of its social responsibility drive. 

"God instructs us to not only care about ourselves, but also to care about those who need help. We should therefore look out for one another. We are concerned about the wellbeing of patients at Athlone Hospital and have therefore decided to give them these blankets," he said. 

He expressed the hope that the blankets would provide comfort to patients. 

Bishop Relemogeng explained that OAIC, formed in 1978, was  made up of spiritual churches in Africa with chapters in 10 countries and a membership of 83 million. 

The Botswana chapter was registered in 2014 and has several sub chapters around the country. 

"The objectives of OAIC are to provide a link between spiritual churches and government and to promote the gospel and preaching of love and peace. 

The organisation also has an objective to engage in compassionate work," he said.

Thanking OAIC for the donation, chief nursing officer for Greater Lobatse District Health Management Team (DHMT), Ms Thalosani Peters said the pandemic had worsened the problem of shortage of blankets in the district. 

She said normally Athlone Hospital admitted between 50 and 60 patients a day but the pandemic had pushed the admission rate to 170.

Ms Peters said other COVID-19 patients were admitted at Peleng East Clinic and the old Teacher Training Centre facility and also needed blankets.

The district did not have funds to procure blankets for the increased number of patients therefore the donations would go a long way in alleviating the shortage, she said. ends