08 Sep 2024

In a quest to provide world class healthcare services and address Botswana and Africa’s diverse health needs, government established Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital, which opened its doors to the public in 2022.

The hospital represents a significant milestone in Botswana’s healthcare system.

“By combining medical care with education and research, it aims to improve health outcomes, advance medical knowledge and support the professional development of healthcare workers in the country,” said the hospital’s caretaker commissioning manager, Mr Clifford Seleka.

Its establishment also marks a progressive step towards enhancing healthcare infrastructure and service delivery in Botswana.

Mr Seleka said the hospital prioritised critical areas that directly impacted the wellbeing of people and also addressed national and regional health, teaching and research gaps.

The hospital has been opening different units and bringing in different health specialists, who are mostly Batswana, Mr Seleka said.

Radiology department, Pharmacy unit, Trauma and Emergency Centre, Medical and Radiation Oncology Clinics, Medical and Surgical Wards, Adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Paediatric Intensive care (first in the country) Surgical Services, General and Surgical Paediatric Services, Plastic Reconstruction Surgery, Neonatal ICU, Renal Care Unit, Dermatology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology, Cardiology, Obstetrics, Counselling, Nutrition and Dietetics as well as the Medical Laboratory, make the list of services available at Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital.

“The units exemplify the hospital’s commitment to provide world class healthcare services and address the diverse healthcare needs of Batswana and the African region as a whole,” said Mr Seleka, adding that a significant highlight of the hospital’s recent advancement was the opening of the Gynaecology and Paediatric Surgical services, which he said were a crucial step in filling critical gaps in Botswana’s healthcare system.

SKMTH announced yet another milestone in carrying out a successful vascular surgery campaign in July and August, from which 56 patients benefitted and was done in partnership with renowned international vascular surgeons, Mr Seleka said.

The initiative,e he said, marked the beginning of ongoing efforts to provide essential vascular surgery to Batswana and would henceforth be done every four months.

Communications and public relations manager, Ms Selwana Pilatwe said the 450-bed hospital had a mandate to provide medical, educational, research and clinical care.

The facility was initially called Botswana University Hospital, previously referred to as the Academic Teaching Hospital due to its positioning in the University of Botswana premises but was renamed Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital in 2018, after Botswana’s second president. “SKMTH is registered as a company 100 per cent owned by the government,” said Ms Pilatwe.

Due to its collaborative model with the University of Botswana, she said the hospital was strategically positioned as a standard benchmark for academic excellence, research and medical education in the region, contributing to human capital development and economic diversification. End