28 Nov 2024

Despite its proximity to Gaborone, Mmopane/Metsimotlhabe constituency remains underdeveloped and poorly serviced, says area MP, Ms Helen Manyeneng, calling for better healthcare service in the area.

Ms Manyeneng who also is Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly was debating the SONA on Wednesday where she argued that the health infrastructure in the constituency was inadequate and the service rendered to the community unsatisfactory.

More often, she said patients were required to buy their own medication owing to shortage of the same in public health facilities. She said Metsimotlhabe clinic was small yet had a huge catchment area which included nearby settlements.

Ms Manyeneng said Matlhaku Clinic in Mmopane was without a maternity unit, eye and dental clinics but serviced a huge population.

The same clinic and Metsimotlhabe clinic, she said operated without ambulances, while those existing in the Ministry of Health were not adequately equipped.

Ms Manyeneng pleaded with government to consider turning Matlhaku Clinic into a 24 hours operating clinic with a resident doctor.

Roads that link Metsimotlhabe to the nearby settlements are in a bad state, hence she requested a mobile clinics to service them.

Ms Manyeneng also said children traveled long distances from settlements to go to school, adding that Tau Manthe Primary School fence was dilapidated and that exposed pupils to risks from trespassers and further stated that the school did not have an administration block.

The area is also faced with a shortage of accommodation for teachers, Ms Manyeneng said.

Member of Parliament for Kanye East, Mr Prince Mosanana encouraged women to stand for political office, adding that the Umbrella for Democratic Change supported women to hold political office.

Regarding his constituency, Mr Mosanana said Kanye did not have a hospital and relied on Seventh Adventist Hospital which scales down services for the Sabbath Day every Friday.

Further, he said the hospital had no air conditioning and relied on windows for ventilation.

Even during winter windows remained open and that works to the disadvantage of patients, Mr Mosanana said.

On other issues, he said that Kanye continued to face shortage of water adding that provision of portable water should have come before the village wastewater treatment plant.

MP Mosanana also talked about high unemployment among young people who constituted the majority of the population and said the matter needed attending to. Ends