Don�t Fear To Seek Medical Assistance � Muzila
Pini Bothoko | Monday November 16, 2015 15:27
Muzila encouraged people to screen and test for various diseases well in time to reduce complications. She said this when officiating at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital (NRH) open day held on Thursday. The event was held under the theme, ‘Taking the hospital to the people’.
Different health practitioners from various services sensitised members of the public on various diseases, treatment and cure.
Muzila said late diagnosis of diseases is a national crisis and a huge concern to health practitioners adding that it is observed that people often detect health problems in their late stage, which is often difficult to manage.
“There are some people who become miserable to visit the clinics not even to visit their family members when they are hospitalised,” said Muzila.
She said detecting diseases in time has the potential to save lives as well as improve the quality of life through early diagnosis of serious conditions.
She congratulated the hospital for having organised an open day event and thus taking health services to the people.
She was positive that it would promote interaction of health workers and the community.
“This event will also help to share feedback and address challenges that the people are faced with within the hospital.
“The nation’s health is of priority to the government hence the need for shared efforts between health workers and the community to promote healthy lifestyles,” said Muzila.
She noted that the Ministry of Health promotes preventative care than curative care hence it is important for the event to be appreciated in informing the public on health services.
“I believe from here we are all going to live healthy lives that will reduce health hazards that bear non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. We should learn on how to manage such health conditions and be knowledgeable of the curative needs,” said Muzila.
She applauded NRH for providing quality health services through its qualified personnel and specialists despite the daily operational challenges, such as shortage of human resources, that they face.
“I encourage you to continue holding community engagement activities as this is a demonstration of a customer-focused leadership that makes a difference in the lives of the community,” said Muzila.
In his welcome remarks NRH Deputy Hospital Superintendent Dr Lowell Chansa said the hospital is over 25 years, something that has started to be shown by its infrastructure that needs frequent maintenance. Chansa said that NRH offers specialist services in surgery, which is general surgery, thoracic, neurology, and orthopaedics. He said that they also offer anaesthetics, internal medicine, paediatrics including neonatology as well as obstetrics and gynaecology, which cover cervix diagnostic procedures, colposcopy and pap smears.
“We also offer endoscopy services, oncology, radiology, psychiatry and psychology, pathology, rehabilitation services, social work and dietetics,” said Chansa.
He said over the years there has been an increase in the number of services and their complexity, which are being offered and has resulted in shortage of space.
He said this has necessitated locating some services at the Jubilee clinic with services like TB, oral health dental, HIV reference laboratory, psychiatry and psychology.
“Still at Jubilee clinic we are yet to open an infectious diseases isolation centre, and a histology and cytology laboratory. We also have a blood donor programme center located next to Botswana Power Corporation offices and not far from Bank of Botswana with Donga clinic having services of diabetes,” said Chansa. He said they wish to see all of these services being provided in NRH if funds could be availed for a five-hectare piece of land behind the hospital for development.