We are not in trouble - BLH boss

GREG KELEBONYE
Staff Writer | Tuesday September 28, 2010 00:00

Mmegi paid a visit to the hospital following complaints that patients hospitalised at the hospital were receiving extremely rationed meals. A number of patients, both male and female interviewed said that the hospital abided by the times for meals, but that suddenly the food was much less than what they have been getting. The situation, according to some staff members who spoke on condition of anonymity was due to the fact all other services from government to the hospital were being rationed.

'We are told that owing to the financial crisis, government has instead of increasing its assistance to the hospital, decreased, even though patient volumes have increased and staff numbers have gone up,' said a staff member who spoke on condition of anonymity.

'We are seeing the repercussions of that in just about every service the hospital offers. For example you will meet patients who have been told that their prescribed medicine is not in stock,' said the staff member.

The situation has caused so much despondency among, especially the nursing staff who are now said to be leaving the hospital.

'And their leaving is not so much a question of finding green pastures as it is of finding some meaning in their job. For how do you find joy in your job when you know that you know that you are not giving your patients the best care for non-availability of medicines, or even food?'

The food issue has become so acute that at one point the hospital had to 'borrow' food from its school of nursing. The hospital is reported be also rationing the length of stay for admission patients. However hospital Chief Executive Officer Moagi Mmitsi says there is no truth in the allegations.

'We have enough food at the hospital, so much that we occasionally have left-overs. We have not received any report to the effect that patients were complaining that the food is too little. In any case should that happen, we expect our staff to facilitate so that the patient gets a bigger ration,' he said.

Moagi also trashed suggestions that the hospital was struggling to meet its obligations due to rationing by government.

'It should be noted that we are financed by the Government of Botswana.

From the premise that government finances have been affected by the global recession, the entire economy has been affected and those services that receive funding from government have also been affected,' he said.

However when asked if the hospital could operating at a minimal as suggested by some staff members, Mmitsi said nothing could be further than the truth.

'I would say rather that we are operating at average, given the current financial situation. That is not to say that the quality of health service that we provide has depreciated,' he said.

Mmitsi said that as hospital management they want the hospital to perform at its best - something that it has been known for over the years. He said as a result the hospital has been dialoguing and continues to do so with the ministry of health.

'We can't deny the fact that we are feeling the pinch of the economic crisis. However under the circumstances we endeavour to do our best with the little that we have.'

Mmitsi also trashed suggestions that there was high staff turn-over at the hospital.

'We have some of the most stable staff. We have been doing our best as a hospital and will continue to do so,' he said.