Makgalemele calls for resurrection of health committees
Lebogang Baingapi | Tuesday March 21, 2017 15:18
Addressing a kgotla meeting on Friday, Makgalemele highlighted that the wellness committees play a pivotal role in spreading health messages and sensitising on proper care during outbreak of diseases in their area.
He said the Government spends P73 million on haemo-dialysis annually and P500 million on anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs).
“We are however disappointed to learn that some patients default on such an expensive treatment. This kills Government’s efforts to effectively deliver quality health services to the nation.
The Government is however committed to fighting HIV/AIDS and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension,” he said.
The assistant Minister also noted that community collaborative efforts remained key in driving a healthy nation.
He said more funds, which could be used in other projects such as infrastructure, are being used to address preventable medical ailments.
He emphasised that good health and responsibility lies with an individual, adding that the nation should make it a point that they go for regular check-ups and adhere to medication.
Though he admitted that HIV prevalence has gone down in some areas, Makgalemele cautioned that the usual preventative measures should be applied.
Meanwhile residents of Sese, which is near Jwaneng, were cautioned about the outbreak of malaria in their area following the recent heavy rains and were encouraged to seek medical attention if they experienced signs and symptoms similar to that of flu. One of the residents, Keboditse Shobashoba decried shortage of nurses at their clinic.
She also highlighted that their village has been hit by poor adherence and default of ARV drugs due to consumption of home-brewed alcohol. Shobashoba called on the Government to arrest the situation lest Government funds go down the drain.
The matron of Mabutsane Sub-District, Daezi Mfolwe said that they have shortage of nursing staff. She also explained that the Sese clinic structure cannot accommodate a maternity ward.
She said currently they are battling to attract new midwives for training and the response has been slow.
Meanwhile, Debswana Jwaneng Mine Hospital is tasked and funded by Government to supply pharmacy services to the community and it has since emerged that suppliers have delayed delivery of such to the pharmacy department.