04 Apr 2022

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is aware of shortage of midwives at Maun health facilities. Answering a question in Parliament recently, assistant minister, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe explained that shortage of midwives was aggravated by their inadequate number countrywide.

However, Mr Lelatisitswe said the ministry had ensured that all eight-hour health facilities were staffed with at least two midwives and at least one for each health post. He indicated that the ministry was also undertaking some initiatives to improve availability of midwives in health facilities. Such, he said included rationalisation of available midwives across all health facilities in the country, saying that would be based on population and the health needs of a particular area.

The ministry, he added, would improve training of health personnel including midwives and further collaborate with health training institutions to increase intake of health professionals. “This implementation will start during the 2022/2023 financial year,” he said. Maun West MP, Mr Dumelang Saleshando, wanted to know if the minister was aware of the shortage of midwives at Maun health facilities. He also asked the minister to state the extent of the shortage and how it was being addressed.ENDS