10 Feb 2025

In order for the workforce to function properly there is need to look into their social welfare as well as their mental health.

This was said by public health specialist for Southern District Health Management Team (DHMT ), Dr Christopher Chembe during the Male Health Worker’s Workshop held in Kanye recently. He said mental wellness had to operate enough for workers to function optimally.

“If anything goes wrong with it, a lot of things begin to surface. Therefore, it is important to address these issues which is a reason why we are here, to form a kgotla for men to engage in helping one another,” Dr Chembe said.

Another objective of the meeting, he said, was to position the team to communicate what the workshop had yielded to the management of Ministry of Health.

“We deal with other people’s health on daily basis, yet we never attend and give ourselves care in these era where life comes with various challenges that we often see our clients face to face with,” said health specialist Mr Sylvester Poifo.

Mr Poifo who was also the organiser of the workshop acknowledged that health workers just like their clients were not exempted from social and welfare issues and further reiterated that the workshop convened to look at male health worker’s self-awareness in the workplace, to sensitise and encourage them on early health seeking behavior for betterment of their health as well as share empowerment strategies on gender based violence.

The workshop reflected majorly on issues of employee and employer relations specifically on statutory public service instruments.

According to Mr Aobakwe Lesolame, a Principal Registered Nurse at Kanye Adventist Hospital, and also a Shop Steward for Botswana Nurses Union (BONU), in mitigation processes millions of Pula were lost due to attending disciplinary issues.

“As a union we make sure we present disciplinary issues by talking to our members well on time, ensuring members are aware of policy guidelines, principles and acts,” he said.

He further shared to the workers that sensitising them ensured they were aware of their governing policies. He encouraged them to study the instruments themselves to avoid landing in trouble.

“One key document that have to guide interaction in our practice, is the public service charter with one of the principles to be highly regarded being the principle of public interest,” said Mr Lesolame, who further urged the male workers to understand that the people they serve come first.

He said they should serve with humility and courteousness at any given time. Mr Lesolebe said they should familiarise themselves with the guiding tool .

“In disciplinary hearings we note that some workers are innocently unaware they are committing an error. So it is important as public servants to know we should be compliant with the public service charter,” he advised.

Acknowledging some grievances raised such as lack of proper orientation structures for first appointment workers, he reflected that in the past, orientations were conducted for a week with a facility boarding of about a month to familiarise the workers with the work environment and resources.

He advised on consistent study of the guiding instruments. He said the instruments such as the employment act, public service act, nurses and midwives act, general orders as well as the national constitution could be accessed from the Government Print Shop and urged them to have copies.

He noted that lack of grievance and resolution platforms as well as interdepartmental meetings, leaded to health workers being overwhelmed by disgruntlement.

“Even disciplined workers end up pushed to indiscipline due to dysfunctional resolution platforms,” he said adding that it further impact negatively over other parts of their wellness as well as to the community they were to assist.

Mr Lesolame advised and encouraged workers to engage authorities in an accountable and meaningful approach that would not leave the community vulnerable. ENDS