04 Apr 2022

Despite budgetary constraints, government, through the Ministry of Health and Wellness, is still committed to maintaining health facilities to the desired standard.

As such, contributions from partners was highly welcome.   

It is against this backdrop that network provider, Mascom renovated Jubilee Refwrral Hospital’s psychiatric unit with proceeds from the annual Mascom Batanani Charity walk.

The charitable project is focused on the northern part of Botswana.

Speaking during the handover ceremony of the refurbished unit in Francistown on April 1, Assistant Minister, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe said government had adopted the principle of universal access to basic healthcare, which included mental healthcare for all.

The assistant minister thanked Mascom for having found it fit to renovate Jubilee Referral Hospital, whose maintenance had become a challenge, considering that it was built way back in 1937.

Mr Lelatisitswe said the aim of the National Policy on mental health was to provide access to services that would enable everyone to benefit from good mental health services.

“Therefore, this individual will be able to make optimal contribution to personal, community and national development,” he said.

He said while people often spoke of mental health with apprehension, time had come for the community to be bold in the approach and engagement around mental health issues, given the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Mental health includes our emotional and psycho-social wellbeing. 

It affects how people think, feel and act,” he said, adding that mental health was important in all stages of life from childhood, adolescence through adulthood.

Highlighting the origins of the Mascom Batanani Charity Walk,  Mr Lelatisitswe said in 2019 they converged at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium for the inaugural walk themed Gender Based Violence, a Remarkable Walk to Stand Against Social Ills that Affect  All Directly or Indirectly.

“This worthy cause was not deterred by the COVID-19 pandemic as Mascom lived up to its values of innovation by putting together the 2020 Mascom Virtual Batanani Walk,” he said.

Mr Lelatisitswe said since its inception, the walk had  benefitted several organs such as Botswana Police Women Network - Northern Division, Jubilee Psychiatric Unit and SOS children’s village in Francistown.

Nyangabgwe Hospital superintendent, Dr Mpho Ramato said Vision 2036 through its Pillar of Human and Social Development recognises good health and wellness as the basic human rights and necessary conditions for development, hence the need to develop and improve health services.

He said proper health delivery systems promoted long and healthy lives.

Dr Ramato said they expected their patients to experience reduction in anxiety, improved moods, have a great sense of calm, inner space, gain self-esteem, have reduced risk of depression, show improvement in relationships and maintain healthy lifestyles.

He said the project would  go a long way in helping the Ministry of Health and Wellness to carryout its mission of promoting and providing comprehensive preventative, curative and rehabilitative quality healthcare services to the nation.  Ends