13 Sep 2023

The Ministry of Health has engaged a private renal dialysis specialist, who will be placed at Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital in Maun. 

Dialysis is a treatment to clean blood when kidneys fail and it helps the body to remove waste and extra fluids in the blood. 

Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe, told a full council meeting September 12 that all logistics had been finalised and the specialist would bring the necessary eqipment next week and start work. The specialist, he said, would service the North West, Okavango, and Boteti districts among others, adding that patients would no longer have to travel long distances to Francistown and Gaborone to access services. 

He said the ministry saw the need to engage private practitioners to make lifesaving treatment for kidney diseases more accessible and affordable. 

“Patients will access services freely as the government will take the responsibility of payment of the practitioner. The responsibility to improve care lies with the government and the private sector hence the engagement of some private practitioners and to place them strategically across the country. 

“We have one at Francistown to service the neighbouring villages and one at Gaborone who services areas such as Molepolole,” he added. Mr Lelatisitswe also revealed that the ministry was aware of some reports from Shorobe where some residents associated kidney disease with water supplied in the village despite thorough tests by the relevant authorities. 

Some villagers have alleged that they have been supplied with contaminated water that led to kidney failure and resulted in deaths. However, he informed the meeting that the ministry, in collaboration with University of Botswana, was investigating the issue to establish what could be the cause of kidney-related deaths in the village. 

“As the Ministry, we are concerned about the number of deaths caused by kidney failure hence we decided to follow the issue to get to the bottom of it. We hope a detailed report will be produced soon,” he added. 

Regarding issues of shortage of drugs and dispensing of medication in health facilities, Mr Lelatisitswe stated that currently, there was an improvement in drug availability, indicating that in the North West District it stood at 74 per cent. 

Mr Lelatistswe said the issue of dispensation of medicines in health facilities was still under discussion with the affected parties. 

He also expressed concern over the delay to complete and hand over the old Maun hospital, which was undergoing refurbishment. 

The explained that then Ministry of Infrastructure terminated the contract and engaged a new contractor to complete the project. Currently, the ministry in question, has written to the contractor and awaits response . 

“As the client, we have also written to the ministry responsible for the project requesting to use part of the project for the benefit of the community while awaiting response. We are concerned about issues of vandalism and theft at the site,” he added. 

For their part, some councillors thanked the ministry for prioritising health and wellness of the community.

Kgosi Oateng Setlhodi of Chanoga said the engagement of a private specialist was a step in the right direction as the community would be able to access specialised health services closer. 

He also wished the ministry responsible for the old Maun hospital could accelerate the completion of the project noting that the facility could reduce congestion at Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital. 

Cllr Oabile Chombo of Shorobe/Sankoyo wished Water Utilities Corporation could drill and equip another borehole at Sankoyo to see if villagers would still complain about kidney failures. 

He attested that the village recorded 16 deaths related to kidney complications since last year July to date. 

“I believe the drilling of another borehole can be the solution to the problem,” he added. 

He also called on the Ministry of Health to consider outsourcing dispensation of drugs in health facilities to save patients from travelling long distances to collect medication. Ends