15 Dec 2013

Chobe district is currently experiencing severe shortage of medical officers at Kasane primary hospital as well as in the major clinics in the district.

Officially opening the last session of the Chobe full council for the year on December 11, council chairman, Mr Mwanota Kachana revealed that the district used to have ten medical officers a year ago but currently it has only four.

“Whilst one doctor was transferred, another one left the district on grounds of poor health, while the rest left in pursuit of the greener pastures,” he said adding that the current insufficient number of doctors has definitely impacted heavily on the smooth running of health services in the district.

He, however, noted that the ministry has been informed about the situation and about the shortage and said about four doctors are expected to arrive if all goes according to plan. On another note, Mr Kachana announced that the 80 per cent that was targeted for the ongoing indoor residual spraying against Malaria was not met after the first month as was expected. He compared this situation to the last three years’ where that target was reached.

“The low coverage is due to refusals by members of the community, especially in Kasane of having their houses sprayed,” he said.

The employed community in Kasane particularly those in government are leading in this regard, he noted.

Regarding issues of land, the chairman noted that it appears there is a disturbing trend where some Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) beneficiaries sell their plots after being allocated. He therefore emphasized that beneficiaries should focus in the development of plots and should at all costs desist from the temptation of selling plots as that would defeat one of the most important government initiatives.

“It must be noted that the SHHA plots are highly subsidized with deliberate intention to make them affordable to the low income people,” he said.

Mr Kachana had explained before his address that priorities for 2014/ 15 budget will still focus on completion of ongoing projects and improving maintenance of existing infrastructure, poverty eradication programmes and eradicating backlogs in government offices as well as improving service delivery. ENDS