12 May 2022

Mosu residents have been advised not to shy away from voicing their grievances, despite the challenging environment of an economy affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, among others.

The advice was sounded by Boteti East MP and Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe in Mosu on Tuesday May 10.

Mr Lelatisitswe said in a democratic dispensation, the community had a right to actively participate in the development agenda and the running of the economy, by voicing their concerns and contributing towards an agenda that would  best serve their interests.

He said government was also appealing to communities to engage in technologically advanced activities to better their lives, adding that the use of technology was among the critical lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The MP therefore implored the community to be hands on and fully engage in developing the economy, by using technology and their knowledge to improve their lives.

He stressed that government would only achieve its mandate of improving the lives and diversifying the economy through the support of the people.

Mr Lelatisitswe said instead of spreading some of the services to communities throughout the country by way of establishing infrastructure, some services would be accessed through the new medium. 

“Our aim through the Reset Agenda is to advance the economy, using our knowledge and create employment opportunities,” he said.

Furthermore, Mr Lelatisitswe said even though the COVID-19 had depleted government coffers, positive lessons were learnt, such as improving the infrastructure, human resources and other services in the health sector.

He said in an effort to combat the pandemic, government had trained some of its personnel to improve capacity, established clinics at the country’s major ports of entry, equipped health facilities with oxygen equipment and expanded laboratories; among others; to address the challenges brought about by the pandemic.

Mr Lelatisitswe said the pandemic had also taught the country the importance of manufacturing its own drugs and vaccines as witnessed by the recent opening of a vaccine manufacturing plant in Gaborone.

He said the current drug shortage was not a result of shortage of funds as some perceived, adding “we have the funds, but the challenge at hand is the shortage of drugs, vaccines and other health amenities across the world”, as drug manufacturing factories’ efforts were curtailed.

Although the country’s development agenda was equally hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, he urged the residents not to despair, but to continue airing their grievances and engaging in activities to bring positive spinoffs to the economy of the country.

Earlier on, the Deputy Chairperson of the Village Development Committee (VDC), Mr Leeme Gakefiwe appealed to government to consider expanding the village clinic by constructing a maternity wing.

Meanwhile, Mosu clinic Pharmacist, Ms Kelebogile Kgetse concurred that there was a dire shortage of drugs, adding that even though the shortage cut across, there was a serious concern for those with non-communicable diseases, psychiatric and other ailments. 

She said the health facility was also short of mandatory vaccines for the under-fives. Ends