12 Feb 2014

The Assistant Minister of Health, Dr Gloria Somolekae has admitted that the Bobonong Primary Hospital is overwhelmed by the influx of patients because the population in the area has grown.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Bobonong on February 10, Dr Somolekae said plans to expand the hospital were halted because of lack of funds. She expressed hope that the Ministry of Health would use part of the P5.2billion allocated to it to upgrade health facilities around the country.

Dr Somolekae was responding to concerns raised by Kgosi Mmirwa Malema, who expressed worry about congestion at the hospital. He said there was a serious shortage of beds because the hospital also caters for other villages in Bobirwa.

“As a result some patients end up sleeping on the floor,” said Kgosi Malema. In response, Dr Somolekae explained that a lot of development projects are shelved because government spends a huge amount of money on procuring anti-retroviral drugs. (ARV’s)

“The Bobonong hospital was earmarked for expansion, but the project was shelved because of the recession. During the recession priority was only limited to areas which did not have health facilities at all,” she said.

Though she could not say exactly when the Bobonong hospital will be expanded, Dr Somolekae said consultations are underway to address the state of the hospital and the problem of overcrowding.

On other issues, Dr Somolekae said the MoH was working around the clock to reduce child mortality and maternal death. She appealed to residents to work hand in hand with health personnel to ensure that illnesses like tuberculosis, HIV, malaria and others were dealt with.

She also asked residents to cooperate with health personnel who conduct indoor residual spraying to control malaria and not refuse them entry into their homes.

Dr Somolekae told residents of Bobonong that the MoH has engaged a new company to ensure adequate supply of drugs in health facilities.

For his part, Village Development Committee (VDC) Chairperson Mr Boitumelo Kgosietsile said the situation was made worse by the shortage of doctors in the area. He added that other infrastructure in the hospital, including the backup generator; showers and the incubator were nonfunctional. ENDS