19 Oct 2023

Batswana have been encouraged to invest in real estate so as to meet high demand of houses and address shortage of accomodation. 

 President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi said during his visit to Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital in Maun, Wednesday following a briefing by the hospital Superintendent Dr Lebogang Mokotedi.

The interaction also accorded Dr Masisi to appreciate progress made by the hospital’ honchos since his last visit in July this year.

“Building houses by the government means less business opportunities for public employees and Batswana to invest in that space,” he said in his response.

On incentives and appreciation of sterling work put in by public employees, Dr Masisi told the hospital staff that he was among proponents of rewarding hard work and excellence in the work place. 

He pleaded for the stoppage of underhand practices such as corruption, which he stated siphoned funds that could be used to reward and motivate workers.

Moreover, President Masisi  called on hospital staff to exploit opportunities in the area of research and development and said government would rally behind them to make sure it becomes a success.

“As government we have your back and we will support you,” he said calling on the management to make sure that staff welfare was taken care of to fight low morale in the work place that often times resulted in poor productivity.

He commended the staff for doing a good job in units such as the renal and dental care.

Also, Letsholathebe staff learnt that the government had taken a decision to decentralise the budgetary power of the Ministry of Health to allow for hospital management to procure goods and services according to their needs.

The change will help hasten service delivery and cut down on the many red tapes of procuring through the ministry’s headquarters.

Furthermore, President Masisi said government had also resolved to put in place the development management model, which would penalise contractors who do shoddy jobs for the government.

Substandard works, he said, often times forced the government to spend extra money on them with a view to deal with their many defects some of which render them non-operational upon being handed to government.  

District Health Management Team Coordinator, Dr Sandra Maripe told President Masisi and his entourage that despite the many challenges they were grappling with, they were working round the clock to make sure the hospital offered the best primary healthcare and to get recognition as the centre of excellence in the district in the health space.

Her sentiments were shared by Dr Mokotedi who said that efforts were made by the hospital management to make sure the facility offered quality services to the people of Ngami and tourists who frequent the district because of its flora and fauna.

“There is shortage of nurses, which is caused by the exodus of the same in search of greener pastures in Europe,” she said.

She expressed appreciation for the support they got from government, especially from President Masisi who had visited the facility twice in a space of three months. ENDS