Residents of Tsabong and surrounding areas have been urged to exercise vigilance regarding the medications they receive from local health facilities.

This call to action was made by Tsabong Primary Hospital family physician, Dr Ineeleng Kgengwenyane, during the official launch of the Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring Centre (AMC) and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) held in Tsabong on Friday.

Dr Kgengwenyane emphasised that patient participation was vital to the success of the new facility. She encouraged members of the public to promptly report any side effects they experience after taking prescribed medicines, noting that such feedback wss essential for improving medical services and ensuring patient safety throughout the district.

Echoing the same sentiments, Mr Lebogang Koitsiwe, the Acting Director of Pharmacovigilance and Clinical Trials at the Botswana Medicines Regulatory Authority (BoMRA), explained that the new centre was designed to strengthen the monitoring of drug safety.

He noted that the facility's core mission was to ensure that all drugs were used appropriately and that any side effects were addressed quickly to ensure the benefit-risk balance of medications remains positive.

According to Mr Koitsiwe, Tsabong marked the 15th office established in Botswana. He highlighted that the location was specifically selected due to the presence of special communities within the region who may be at a higher risk of adverse reactions, and the initiative would ultimately help health officials determine which medications work most effectively for the local population.

The initiative received strong support from the Deputy Council Secretary, Mr Mooketsi Rakose, who described the launch as a significant milestone for the district.

Mr Rakose acknowledged that the centre arrived at a critical time when the district was facing  shortage of certain medications. He appealed to the community to remain patient as the supply situation normalised, while simultaneously encouraging them to make full use of the new monitoring facility.

He urged residents to feel empowered to report any health concerns related to their treatment, as this transparency was key to maintaining high standards of healthcare in the region. ENDS