Guebuza opens Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital

MARANYANE NGWANAAMOTHO
Staff Writer | Wednesday July 7, 2010 00:00

 

When addressing the gathering, Guebuza commended the government of Botswana for developing modern health facilities. He said that the construction of the hospital would not only meet the health needs of patients but would also be used to train medical students and other personnel. 

'This clearly reflects the vision of the government of Botswana to address both the challenges posed by mental health today and those that are to come with the future needs,' said Guebuza. 

Minister of Health, Reverend Dr John Seakgosing said that the facility, which is popularly known as Lobatse Mental Hospital started with just a few beds as a unit in the present Athlone Hospital. It was later upgraded to a fully fledged psychiatric hospital on the realisation that it could not accommodate all referred patients. 'This facility we are opening today has a bed capacity of 300, with highly specialised equipment and trained personnel in psychiatric care. The hospital, also a teaching facility, provides a home away from home therapeutic psychiatric environment, supported by committed teams of multi-disciplinary professionals, assisted by a community-based mental health board and an active hospital advisory committee,' said Seakgosing. Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital was named after Dr Guiseppe Sbrana, an Italian and first psychiatric specialist to be recruited to work at the institution from 1922 to 1978.  Through his leadership, the institution and health service in Botswana underwent development and improvement, which made the hospital the first and only national referral institution for psychiatric illnesses.