02 Dec 2024

The Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Lawrence Ookeditse has urged Serowe District Health Management Team (DHMT) staff to ensure that the environment was conducive in all health facilities for effective and efficient service delivery despite some challenges.

The assistant minister said this during a familiarisation tour of healthcare facilities at Sekgoma Memorial Hospital, Boipelogo Clinic, Old Sekgoma Clinic and Serowe Clinic on Friday.

 Mr Ookeditse noted that he had seen, observed and was told about the alarming challenges they are facing and promised to tackle them. He observed that inadequate maintenance of hospital buildings, non-functional and inequitable distribution of equipment as well as poor availability of medicines are some of the key challenges facing public hospitals in Botswana.

He said that the national outcry of lack of doctors and nurses was a concern, and said the Ministry of Health was aware of the situation and were expecting the situation to be remedied.

He appealed to both senior management and staff to work tirelessly to ensure that hospital operations ran smoothly.

Mr Ookeditse said that some issues which he had observed are administrative, and not due to lack of money which he said need to be resolved.

He added that issues such as procurement of drugs, transport and transfer issues would be addressed.

He said in recognition of nurses and midwives’ central role in Botswana’s efforts to achieve universal health coverage, government would advance and protect their interests as well as address challenges that impede their work.

He said the new government was committed to support nurses by ensuring that they were able to continue providing quality care to the public.

He said that the new government was aware that nurses were grappling with several challenges among them delayed progression, shortage of accommodation and their safety in health facilities.

The Coordinator of Serowe/Palaye, DHMT, Dr Tom Baasi said the hospital, which is under the Serowe Health District Management Team (DHMT), was experiencing some setbacks such as shortage of transport, especially ambulances, doctors, poor maintenance and shortage of nurses.

 Dr Baasi said that one of the biggest challenges faced by hospitals was shortage of qualified healthcare professionals and specialists.

Deputy Permanent Secretary Dr Mareko Ramotsababa said while the challenges often left nurses and midwives feeling unappreciated, they should remain hopeful as government planned to resolve these issues.

Dr Ramotsababa indicated that they had gathered their opinions, queries and concerns and they would do everything they could at ministry level and also provide maintenance of health facilities.

“All facilities should be well maintained at all times and furnished for effective service delivery,” he said. Ends