31 Jan 2026

 A handing over of mobile X-Ray to Gumare Primary Hospital on Saturday was described by various speakers as evidence of government commitment to addressing healthcare challenges.
The Okavango District, being vast, with wetlands and bad terrains, has perculiar challenges that negatively impact access to services such as healthcare services.
Absence of these key  services, including X-Ray machines in Gumare, despite being the  district's headquarters, meant residents of Okavango faced hardships and expenses. Some communities, such as Gudigwa in the Eastern Panhandle of the Delta, are about 306 kilometres away, while remote villages like Xaixai and Nxauxau are accessible by gravel roads, and Jao village lies in the floodplain reachable by air or  boat only. As a result, patients were forced to travel to neighboring districts such as Ghanzi and North West in Maun to access these services.
In an interview, nominated councilor who represented the Okavango District Council chairperson,  expressed gratitude for the X-ray mobile clinic as a worthwhile investment for the people of Gumare and Okavango as a whole since patients would receive the necessary services nearer.  Councillor Osefelepelo Gaebolae said  as a mobile clinic, the X-ray machine would also improve service delivery by being taken to other parts of the district when need arose.
Mr Gaebolae appreciated that of recently, a theater bed was also brought to Gumare hospital,  saying such swift response from the government was commendable.
In his remarks, Kgosi Moitshepi Molelwa of Gumare observed that Gumare Primary Hospital had a portable X-ray machine which was only reserved for critical patients in need of X-ray. Therefore, he said the X-ray mobile clinic was a welcome development and proved government’s commitment to heed challenges facing the nation.
Kgosi Molelwa further decried that the proposed upgraded primary hospital for Gumare had been deferred since National Development Plan 9 to date, although the community had offered land for the project.
A resident, Ms Sofiya Qhumorozi expressed happiness that X-ray services were finally available in Gumare which would help them as patients to cut costs from seeking such services in Maun adding that they sometimes went and came back without the sought after services  due to issues of high patients volume per day.
Gumare Primary Hospital family physician, Dr Ditiro Goitsemang said lack of crucial services such as X-ray machines overwhelmed health care officers since they had to refer patients as far as Maun while the roads were also bad leading to vehicles experiencing breakdowns in some instances.
For his part, the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ignatius Moswaane said the government was committed to tackle challenges facing the health system.
He said the  government would ensure Batswana received necessary healthcare services and other relevant services from other ministries.
He said ministers and assistant ministers went around the country visiting government institutions to appreciate challenges on the ground and  provide support to public officers.
Mr Moswaane said the government would do an overhaul of the health system by providing necessary equipment and making lack of medicines a thing of the past.
The X-ray mobile clinic machine, he said was therefore a proof of government’s commitment to provide diagnostic equipment for patients to receive services nearer.
He said government continued to ensure medicines were available although not yet at 100 per cent. ENDS