08 Mar 2023

Parliament has been informed that staffing at Joseph Kavindama Primary Hospital in Shakawe stands at 92 per cent.

In response to a question on Tuesday, Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe said service delivery at the health facility was constrained by shortage of human resource, especially in specialised cadres.

To address the challenge, Mr Lelatisitswe said the ministry was engaged in external recruitment and the identified personnel were currently in the process of applying for registration with Botswana Health Professionals Councils (BHPC) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Botswana (NMCB).

He said the hospital started phase one operation in March 2021 as an isolation facility for COVID-19 patients.

He added that the second phase operation started on October 24 last year providing general out-patient, pharmaceutical services, dental, laboratory and maternity services.

The plan, he said the plan was for the hospital to be fully operational by June this year after all bottlenecks had been addressed.

“The current bottlenecks that are impeding the attainment of its full operational status are acute shortage of accommodation. In an effort to address housing shortage, the ministry has sourced additional funds for acquisition of more housing,” he said.

As such, Mr Lelatisitswe said 36 staff houses were being constructed of which 24 were expected to be completed by July this year, with the remaining 12 still at tender stage.

“In the meantime, we have purchased 22 prefabricated houses which were used in the Mohembo Bridge project. Payment for same is being processed,” said Mr Lelatisitswe.

With respect to the hospital infrastructure, Mr Lelatisitswe said some set back was experienced due to power outrage which affected laundry machines, mortuary and laboratory equipment among others.

Member of Parliament of Okavango, Mr Kenny Kapinga had asked the minister to state when Joseph Kavindama Primary Hospital was expected to be fully operational as well as efforts in place to address bottlenecks impeding its full operation. ENDS