06 May 2025

Stakeholders have commended government’s recent decision to transfer primary health care back to councils as the move will enhance responsiveness and efficiency in health care provision.
Previously, primary healthcare services were managed by the Ministry of Health, but the centralisation led to challenges such as delays in service delivery and difficulties in addressing local health needs effectively.
Speaking during the official welcome of 300 nurses and support staff to Kweneng District Council from the Ministry of Health, the district council chairman, Mr Ontefetse Rankhibidu  praised  government’s recent move to decentralise health services, emphasising that the initiative would enable Batswana to effectively access services.  
He expressed confidence that as they welcomed nurses from central government into their team, the health professionals would dedicate themselves fully to uphold their commitment to serving the people of Botswana
The chairman said he was aware of the challenges faced by clinics, especially their infrastructure which needed attention.
Councilor Rankhibidu reminded nurses that there would be challenges and differences along the way but they should not deter them from working hard and giving their all.
 He encouraged councillors to know nursing staff in their different wards so that they could work together towards rendering services to Batswana.  
The Coordinator of District Health Management Team (DHMT), Ms Josephine Mosimanewakgosi said she was pleased to hand-over 29 health facilities together with a team of health professionals and support staff to the council. She said she was handing-over a motivated team which was committed and focused. Ms Mosimanewakgosi said they  were happy to be joining the council of choice and believed that the team would deliver as promised.
When giving remarks, Kweneng District Council Secretary, Mr Olebile Mafala said nurses played a pivotal role in delivering health care services to the nation.
 He said they were happy to be welcoming them to the council  and would work together to serve Batswana.
Mr Mafala further said he had toured some health facilities and was happy with the state of some of them while others needed to be attended to.
He said the architect department would visit some of the health facilities and see how they could make plans to refurbish them.
The council secretary affirmed their commitment to delivering excellent service, stating that as long as the team worked together and supported one another, they would not fail in their duties.
 In her welcome remarks, the chairperson of education and health committee in Kweneng District Council,  Ms Ponalo Ramosang said  despite the known challenges affecting delivery of services at health facilities, they would work together to satisfy their customers.
She said working together as a team remained important towards helping Batswana enjoy services. ENDS