02 Dec 2021

Government has overtime made strides in increasing access to health and wellness through partners and individuals who continue to help by constructing clinics in various parts of the country. 

 Officially opening a P10m Jwaneng Mine  financed clinic in Maboane yesterday, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi hailed development partners such as Debswana for helping ensure that communities were not left behind in terms of access to quality health services.

“Access to quality health is fundamental to human life and government will remain committed to ensure that Batswana continue to have basic needs of life which should propel them to prosper and live a decent life,” he said. 

Describing Debswana as a reliable partner in socio-economic development, President Masisi thanked the company  for initiatives which continued to benefit communities despite the current financial challenges caused by COVID-19. 

The state-of-the-art facility, built at a cost of just over P10 million against a budget of P11 million, will service Takatokwane constituency communities as well as travellers using the Letlhakeng/Morwamosu highway. 

The President said  government had always prioritised health care which was delivered through a decentralised model called District Health Management Team (DHMT) spread across 27 health districts. 

Giving an overview of the project, named Tirelo Motseonageng Clinic, Jwaneng Mine general manager Mr Koolatotse Koolatotse noted that it came at a time when COVID-19 had shown the need for more health facilities.

He expressed happiness that construction was completed ahead of schedule and below budget with zero harm. 

According to Mr Koolatotse, construction was expected to take nine months but was completed in six.

Noting that the project was not an easy undertaking due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he however said the company remained resolute to give Batswana access to health services and that communities in the vicinity of Debswana operations should benefit. 

He said no diamond was worth anything if communities around Debswana operations did not have access to quality health services. 

Mr Koolatotse said Debswana had joined hands with government to drive Vision 2036. 

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Kaisara Phuthego of Maboane expressed gratitude that Debswana had honoured the promise made by the late general manager Mr Albert Milton to his departed father Mr Tirelo Motseonageng whom the clinic was named after. 

Kgosi Phuthego requested of accommodation for health workers to help in the efficient provision of health services. 

The MP for Takatokwane Mr Friction Leuwe said he was happy the contractors sourced workers from Maboane  they have done a sterling job. 

He commended President Dr Masisi for doing well in saving the lives of Batswana during the time when COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak. 

Debswana also donated three oxygen concentration machines to the clinic.ends