17 Feb 2014

Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital superintendent, Dr Malaki Tshipayagae has raised a concern about late presentation of illnesses for clinical treatment by patients.

Updating the Assistant Minister of Health, Dr Gloria Somolokae on a tour of the hospital recently, Dr Tshipayagae lamented that the practice resulted in a conflict as the community tended to believe that their patients were not treated well and ended up dying.

He nonetheless noted they had decided to improve on their communication and counselling of patients and families, so that they could become aware of the results of bringing a patient late when the disease would have spread beyond control of clinical treatment.

Dr Tshipayagae further highlighted that in their efforts to improve service to their clients, the hospital had opened the Palliative Care Clinic after they realised that breast cancer patients needed special treatment.

Furthermore, he noted that they were experiencing a high number of non-communicable diseases, which came as a result of changes in lifestyle for many Batswana.The hospital superintendent added that they had also realised that over-weight was one of the factors, which led to the rise of high cancer rates.

On other issues, he informed the assistant minister that despite the challenges, which they were experiencing in their line of duty, they have had some successes among them the outsourcing of some services such as laundry services, cleaning and pottery as well as security.

This, he explained, had allowed them to focus on their main mandate of offering their clients expected clinical services. In addition, he highlighted that last year January, they started an ambulance service for the greater Francistown area.

He said cases within the radius of 30-50 kilometres were handled by them and that ambulances were stationed at the referral hospital and the use of a call centre was utilised in case of emergencies

This arrangement however had brought discomfort in some community members, who viewed it as though the hospital had taken their ambulances from their respective institutions and affecting service delivery.

Dr Tshipayagae said they had recruited and trained emergency medical staff from institutions such as Boitekanelo to offer clinical care on the scene or from clinic to the hospital.

Meanwhile, the assistant minister appreciated the staff for doing their best in giving their clients better services despite the challenges they are experiencing on their duties on a daily basis.

She, however, noted that as a ministry, they had received negative reports routed through the Office of the President (OP) regarding poor service standards offered to the public by some members of staff.

Such things, she said, tarnished the good image of the institutions as well as that of the ministry, hence it was important that at all times they should improve on their botho towards the patients despite the challenges.

She however informed them that the ministry was working around the clock to address staff welfare issues, amongst them shortage of accommodation, and they had since been allocated about P200 million to build staff houses. ENDS