02 Apr 2023

Government, owing to other pressing requirements nationwide, does not consider to establish a 24-hour clinic at the Old Ghanzi hospital, particularly that the new one is not overwhelmed.

This was said by Assistant Minister of Heath, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe in response to a question in Parliament recently.

“We are confident that the new hospital is currently sufficient to provide adequate service to residents of Ghanzi. To establish another 24-hour service will have to compete with other national priorities and we will also have to consider other factors like availability of staff,” Mr Lelatisitswe said.

Instead of turning the old hospital into a 24-hour clinic, he said the ministry would use it for other health related services such as District Health Management Team (DHMT) offices, district pharmacy warehouse as well as house Emergency Medical Services base.

“This will enable us to provide emergency services for the whole area with a quick response,” he said.

He said renovations, which were expected to be completed in December at the tune of P1 million, were being carried out through the Constituency Community Projects fund.

Member of Parliament for Ghanzi North, Mr John Thiite had asked if government would  consider turning the old hospital into a 24-hour clinic to cater for residents of wards in its proximity.

Mr Thiite said residents of wards such as Meriting, Tshabantsa as well as Ghanzi Senior Secondary School and Itekeng Junior Secondary School and others, were forced to access 24-hour health services far because they did not have any such facility nearer.

He therefore requested the ministry to commit to opening such a facility at the old Ghanzi hospital. ends