18 May 2022

Government envisions a future where the elderly would be able to consult a doctor remotely from anywhere and anytime.

“The future, which is upon us, no longer requires anyone to travel to a doctor. These can be done using an array of intelligent devices such as watches, sold at affordable prices by different dealers near us,” Minister of Communication, Knowledge and Technology, Mr Thulagano Segokgo has said.

He was speaking on the occasion of World Telecommunications and Information Society Day commemoration in Mmathubudukwane on Tuesday.

Minister Segokgo underscored the importance of tracking health indicators such as heart rate, insulin levels and activity levels without having to travel to health facilities.

He therefore encouraged the elderly to break technological fears and embrace Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for convenient and practical living. 

He said they should utilise ICT provided platforms for remote medical diagnosis, shopping, selling, paying, accessing markets, building relationships, networking and enjoying public services.

This year’s theme, Digital Technologies for Older Persons and Healthy Ageing, was aimed at gauging the country’s achievements with regard to helping the elderly to  remain active, participate in decision-making, have seamless access to public services as well as to continue earning a living on their own, he said.

Minister Segokgo said through the Botswana Integrated Transport Projects (BITP), the ministry, was working hard to ensure easy maneuvering around cities by older persons. He said apart from transforming them into smarter cities, technology would be leveraged to improve people’s mobility.

As an anchor platform for the project, he said communications technology for navigation and control of transport systems would be put in place to respond to the needs of different users.

Meanwhile, the minister has hailed telecommunications industry stakeholders for driving financial inclusion.

“We need to applaud our mobile operators for their timely response to mobile money trends. They continue to find innovative ways to facilitate business transactions, payment of services and cross-border remittances,” he said.

The minister said similarly, FinTech innovation had allowed government to improve financial and social services security.

Through digitisation of old age pension processes, the elderly were able to access their money in more service points than before, said Mr Segokgo. He applauded BotswanaPost for continuing to offer cutting-edge technologies to facilitate payment of benefits to the elderly.

Minister Segokgo urged Bakgatla to utilise the bedrocks provided for spurring technological innovation that would aid them in achieving efficient and productive living. 

They were also told to heed President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s Reset Agenda call to improve  ways of doing things. 

“The demand is urgent for us to consider and identify what works well for us as a society and what does not. Every stakeholder is to replace what does not work with new innovative ways that take advantage of the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” he stressed.

He said in ensuring that ICT became accessible and affordable to all, Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority had successfully negotiated with telecommunications operators reduction of tariffs and alignment of  products as well as services to government’s digitisation policy imperatives.

Besides cutting prices, operators continued to upgrade and expand network coverage in the Kgatleng District to high speed, high-capacity broadband connectivity, stated the minister. 

Mr Segokgo said through Botswana Fibre Networks (BoFiNet), the ministry would reticulate optic fiber in Mochudi to provide broadband last-mile connectivity to offices, businesses, hospitality facilities and civic areas.Mmathubudukwane-Ramonaka councillor, Mr Gaonyadiwe Bogatsu applauded the ministry for bringing ICT to Kgatleng residents. 

He said ICT was crucial to today’s way of  living and a necessity for every household.

“The importance of ICT cannot be over-emphasised as the COVID-19 pandemic has further showed its importance,” he said. ends