25 Aug 2026

The Ministry of Health is aware that the Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital faces a number of infrastructure and maintenance challenges, which include aspects of original building design.

The minister, Dr Stephen Modise told Parliament that the challenges made patient observation more difficult. 

To strengthen patient safety, he said CCTV surveillance had already been installed in one in-patient ward, while expansion of CCTV coverage was targeted to the remaining wards to improve patient monitoring and enhance security. 

He said recognising the need for long-term improvements, the ministry developed a comprehensive two-phased refurbishment programme in 2024, adding that the refurbishment of the acute ward had been completed and handed over in December 2024 as Phase I of the refurbishment programme. 

Dr Modise said the improvements included introduction of the vandal proof ceiling in the wards to improve their durability and ability to stand in vandalism attempts, given the patients accommodated by the hospital. 

He further highlighted that preparations of Phase II were underway, noting that the ministry was collaborating with Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and the University of Botswana (UB) to undertake a comprehensive assessment of all health facilities in the country. 

The minister said the assessment encompassed referral hospitals, district and primary levels, adding that it focused on facility condition audits, structural and utilities assessment and spatial analysis to inform future expansion as well as modernisation initiatives. 

“Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital as one of the major facilities is covered by this exercise. The ministry also recognises that quality patient care depends on the well-being of the health care workers,” he noted. 

He said the hospital had an active staff welfare committee that implemented staff wellness activities throughout the year. 

The minister also told Parliament that the hospital operated a staff clinic five days a week to improve timely access to healthcare services for employees and quarterly staff welfare and general staff meetings provided structured opportunities for engagement between management and staff on workplace issues and staff well-being. 

In addition, Dr Modise stated that a fully equipped staff gymnasium was available to promote physical wellness while partnership with relevant stakeholders enabled the provision of financial management education and other staff development initiatives. 

The ministry, he said remained fully committed to ensuring that Sbrana hospital provided a safe, secure and therapeutic environment for patient while maintaining a healthy and supportive workplace for staff. 

He was responding to a question by Lobatse legislator, Mr Jamal Jacobs, who had asked if the minister was aware of the state and situation at Sbrana hospital, particularly in terms of the health risk, patient well-being as well as the state of the facility and the wellbeing of employees. ENDS