08 Jun 2022

A collaboration between Ministry of Health and the South African High Commission, dubbed Project Mabu has donated food hampers, clothes and baby walker to Ms Oratile Raseametso at Sekgoma Memorial hospital in Serowe on Tuesday.

The gifts are donated annually to first babies born on New Year’s Day, across all the 18 District Health Management Teams (DHMTs).

“This means that the baby who was born first on New Year’s Day in each DHMT, will benefit from this initiative, starting this year,’’ said Dr Gaone Moloise, Hospital Superintendent at Sekgoma.

Dr Moloise said the purpose of the project was to donate comprehensive hampers inclusive of key essentials necessary for new born babies, and an additional hamper which would be provided for the baby’s family, containing largely staple foods and clothing.

He said six babies, three girls and three boys were born in Serowe/Palapye, and because baby Oratile was her first born they decided to select her from the others who were not first borns.

Dr Moloise said the project could have started a while back  but was hindered by the outbreak of COVID-19.

He said there were various programmes in place for children as they are regarded as the future generation.

Handing over the gifts, the Country General Manager of Woolworths Botswana, Ms Gorata Abotseng Lekau said the project was initiated by South African High Commissioner Ms Thaninga Shope-Soumah.

Ms Abotseng-Lekau mentioned that the 2022 Project Mabu sponsors included UNGWA Africa, CA Sales, Choppies Botswana, Woolworths Botswana, FLO-TEK and Kalahari Training Institute (KTI).

She said the project was officially launched in Mmathethe on June 3, another one would be at Maun on 8 June 8 this year.

The Minister of Health, Dr Edwin Dikoloti together with the South African High Commissioner to Botswana, Ms Shope-Soumah will lead the handover of the donations on behalf of the Ministry of Health and the South African High Commission  respectively.

Mr Johannes Jacobs from Department of Social work at Sekgoma said children’ Acts stated that children have the right to health, clothing, food and education which he said should not be overlooked. He thanked the donors for their compassion. Ends