19 Oct 2023

Ntlo ya Dikgosi members have donated toiletries and sanitary pads worth over P30 000 to Princess Marina Hospital on Tuesday.

Presenting the donation, Kgosi Puso Gaborone, the chairperson of Ntlo ya Dikgosi and Batlokwa Paramount Chief explained that part of their mission was social responsibility, which included giving back to the community.

He said their gesture could significantly help numerous patients, particularly those in the maternity ward where they had donated maternity pads.

In addition to toiletries, they also donated 150 diapers, deodorants and body lotions among other items.

Kgosi Puso also said their social responsibility contributions to the nation was traceable as in 2012 they constructed a two-bedroom house in Manyana and in 2013 they donated food hampers  in Pandamatenga and Kazungula.

He further said in 2015, Ntlo ya Dikgosi donated essential health supplies such as gloves   and masks as well as laptops to Pabalelong Hospice in Metsimotlhabe. 

He added that in 2018, they donated blankets, mattresses, food hampers and school uniforms to the Maun community.

Kgosi Gaborone also said they donated chairs to the Sefophe kgotla as well as  that of Lesoma.

The chairperson, however, said their primary responsibility as Ntlo ya Dikgosi members was to uphold and preserve Botswana’s cultural heritage. 

He said as part of their cultural education initiative, they constructed a traditional mud house at Sir Seretse Khama Junior Secondary School and donated cultural artifacts such as ditlatlana, dinkgwana and maselo among others.

On their efforts to fight COVID-19, he said they contributed to the COVID-19 relief fund by donating P30 000.

The donations were sourced directly from the personal contributions of members and they have so far donated over P181 000.

Quoting Winston Churchill words, “we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give,” Kgosi Gaborone said what it meant was how they lived was largely determined not by how much one gets out life, but how much they can give like they have given to Princess Marina Hospital.

In her vote of thanks, the hospital’s matron, Ms Cheneso Siku expressed her gratitude towards members of Ntlo ya Dikgosi. 

She said their contributions were significant and would never be forgotten, adding that they had managed to put smiles on the faces of their patients.

She assured Dikgosi and promised to adhere to all procedures to ensure fair distribution. Ms Siku also said the donation was the beginning of a long-standing relationship between both parties.

In his remarks, deputy hospital superintendent, Dr Monkgogi Goepamang expressed his gratitude to members of Ntlo ya Dikgosi for their generous gesture, stressing that their donation would benefit numerous patients.

He said they frequently admit patients without any toiletries or other personal items and that the assistance is profound.

Giving a brief overview of the hospital, he said they routinely deal with 600 to 700 patients daily. 

He said despite the huge number, their staff’s commitment to serve Batswana remained unwavering even under the constraint of limited facilities, adding that their motto was “Doing more with less.” Ends