29 Jun 2023

The Sefhare clinic is planned for opening next week  (July 2, 2023.)

Assistant Minister of Local Government, Mr Mabuse Pule said the delay in opening the facility was due to water challenges and that the situation has since been addressed.

Kgosi Johane Rakumako of Tswapong region had asked the assistant minister when the Sefhare clinic would start operating to relieve Sefhare Primary Hospital.

Mr Pule also said the Ministry of Health was aware that some nurses had left Botswana for greener pastures in other countries.

He said some strategies had been put in place to retain health professionals and that some of the strategies were being implemented.

“Currently nurses are getting 15 per cent retention and 15 per cent overtime allowance as well as 10 per cent post basic allowance aimed at retaining nurses in the public sector,” said Mr Pule.  

Additionally, he said the ministry had also taken the decision the send a number of nurses for training.

Kgosi Esau Molehele of Ghanzi East region had asked the Minister of Health to update Ntlo ya Dikgosi on whether he was aware of the mass exodus of nurses to other countries. Kgosi Molehele also wanted to know measures in place to retain them.  

Specially Elected Kgosi Oatleng Setlhodi had asked if the Minister of Health was aware that there was shortage of accommodation at Chanoga health post and how the situation would be rectified. He also asked if there were plans to upgrade the health post to a clinic.

Mr Pule said the ministry was aware of accommodation shortage at the facility as there was only one staff house.

However, he said the Village Development Committee (VDC) as a key stakeholder in the community had been instrumental in providing the much needed accommodation for staff members.

He said it was in the ministry’s plan to upgrade all health posts to clinics. However, Mr Pule said, the upgrading was halted by financial constraints.

He also said it would be done in a phased approach considering the population needs of various communities.

Therefore, Mr Pule said the ministry could not give a time frame of when the Chanoga Health Post would be upgraded. He said implementation of the project would be considered in future development plans.

He also said the ministry was unable to send a resident doctor to Kokong due to the current shortage of doctors in the district and nationally.

He noted that Kokong Clinic was serviced on a monthly basis by a Mabutsane cluster doctor.

Kgosi James Khumanego of Ngwaketse West region had asked the minister to state when the post of doctor at Kokong Clinic would be filled.

In relation to the shortage of nurses and doctors in the Serowe region, Mr Pule said some initiatives were undertaken to improve availability of nurses and doctors in health facilities.

He noted that the challenge was widespread across the country and that it was compounded by resignations by staff seeking greener pastures.

He said the availability of nurses and doctors across all health facilities in the country was based on population and the health needs of a particular area. Recruitment of retired nurses with specialised skills on a temporary basis was done to address the shortage.

Mr Pule said there was a recruitment of temporary doctors to address shortage in District Health Management Teams (DHMTs), including Serowe.

Kgosi Nlakidzi Kabelo of Serowe region had asked if the minister was aware of shortage of nurses and doctors in the Serowe regiony, and what was being done to address the situation.

In relation to delays in the completion of Moshupa Primary Hospital, Mr Pule acknowledged the delay and said the project was 75 per cent complete although the original date of completion was March 2022.

However, he noted that the staff housing component was complete, and that the houses were handed over for occupation this month.

He said the delay in completing the hospital building was attributed to the poor performance of the mechanical subcontractor and that a decision was taken to terminate his contract in December 2022.

He noted that there were delays in replacing the mechanical subcontractor and that the procurement process was anticipated to be complete by mid-July 2023.

Kgosi Oscar Mosielele of Moshupa region had asked the minister to update the house on the cause of delays in the completion of Moshupa Primary Hospital. ENDS