23 Aug 2021

Debswana Mining Company, in partnership with DTC Botswana and De Beers Group of Sales (DBGSS), recently unveiled a Block 8 Diamond Park vaccination centre. 

The centre would be used to vaccinate staff members and eligible family members belonging to the above mentioned companies. 

Speaking in an interview, Debswana head of safety and sustainable development, Mr Tefo Molosiwa, said the trio had contributed about P55 million towards purchasing COVID-19 vaccines to be used at the centre. 

He said they had already started vaccinating employees belonging to the mining value chain including personnel from DTC Botswana and DBGSS, to ensure that the country’s revenue generation agenda continued as expected.

Mr Molosiwa highlighted that since mining was the country’s economic mainstay, they hoped to reach head immunity and reduce COVID-19 transmission rates among staff members and their families.  

He said they had adopted the family unit model where they vaccinated their employees and family members, who were within the prescribed ages for vaccination as per guidance and authorisation of the DHMT.

Mr Molosiwa said as for Jwaneng, Orapa and Letlhakane, the vaccination process had long commenced, with efforts to boost uptake of vaccines among locals.

He further indicated that they had been working closely with the government where their main contribution during the first months of setting was largely to pay invoices of expected vaccines consignments. 

In addition, he said they donated a number of oxygen concentrators to the government through the District Health Management Teams (DHMT).

Mr Molosiwa said their efforts also went to assisting with provision of cold storage and refrigerators for storing vaccines, including availing containers used for transportation of batches from main storages to diverse vaccination sites. Ends