Ngami on high alert for Swine Flu

STATES MODIBATI
Correspondent | Wednesday August 5, 2009 00:00

He told NWDC councillors that there is continuous surveillance at the Maun airport and other entry points and isolation facilities have been set at the old hospital building to deal with Swine Flu cases. He expressed worry that Ngamiland District has a limited stock of Tami Flu tablets for the treatment of Swine Flu. Benn complained that the mass exodus of professionals and inadequate funds are serious challenges faced by the NWDC health department. He said that despite the budgetary constraints and persistent human resource shortages, the department is trying its best to increase access to health care services. He revealed that the construction of Matsaudi Health Post and Disaneng and Maun clinics has increased health facilities in Ngamiland from 51 to 54 since 2007. The NWDC boss expressed happiness that the PMTCT programme has reduced the transmission rate of HIV to newly born babies to below five percent. He disclosed that the district has a 9,690 patients on antiretroviral treatment. He said there are plans to supply ARV to Phuduhudu Health Post, Disaneng, Qangwa and Sepopa clinics during the current financial year.

Benn lamented that the scarcity of essential drugs in the district is exacerbated by expensive drugs procured from local markets in an attempt to augment supplies from Central Medical Stores. He added that high rainfall and flooding in some areas in the district has not caused a rise in malaria cases.

Letsholathebe Hospital superintendent, Dr Maxwell Mongisi explained that long queues at the hospital are caused by a shortage of medical staff. The situation is worsened by patients who by-pass clinics near them and go straight to the hospital for consultations.

'To improve our service delivery, patients should visit their nearest clinics and those who need further assistance will be referred to the hospital,' he said. He added that the hospital has only four specialists in different disciplines, while the number of patients is very huge.

He disagreed with councillors that patients are not given adequate care. He told those who have a complaint against the hospital staff to contact the administration department. The hospital administrator informed the councillors that patients who are registered as destitute are assisted with road warrants to travel to referral hospitals like Nyangabgwe in Francistown.