Finally, a rehab centre in Botswana

TUDUETSO TEBAPE | Wednesday September 26, 2012 00:00

One dedicated citizen, Ernest Bokete, and a few other people he works closely with to actively realise this dream, have taken it upon themselves to do something that should have been done years ago. I suppose it's true that, 'better late than never'.

Bokete holds a junior degree in psychology from Seattle University in the USA. Upon completion of his studies he did an internship at the then Lobatse Mental Hospital where he worked closely with people who suffered mental illnesses triggered by substance abuse. It was here where he was first exposed to the challenges faced by those who suffer from the consequences of addiction.

He later worked with the Botswana Defence Force, but has now dedicated his life's work to overseeing operations of Ikageng Rehabilitation Centre, to ensure its completion.The centre is planned to be located in Kanye and will admit a full capacity of 50 patients.  The project is still at an infancy stage, but considering communication from Bokete, Batswana should be hopeful that plans that the project will take off soon.

'We are in the last stages of planning since the Ministry of Health has accepted our application to open a rehabilitation centre in Botswana. We are now awaiting a letter from the ministry that will give us the go-ahead to start building, after we finish with the facility layout (architectural drawing) of what it will look like. We anticipate a response from the ministry within the next two weeks,' said Bokete.

Bokete and his partner Joel Kgobe have been working hard for almost three years, in order to prepare for the centre. The two have been on several benchmarking exercises at rehabilitation centres in South Africa like Stabilis Treatment Centre in Pretoria. While benchmarking, Bokete and Kgobe determined what aspects could be adapted at Ikageng, to benefit those who will utilise its services. 

The centre will provide a rehabilitation programme for people challenged with alcoholism and drug addiction.Psychologists, doctors and nurses who are specially trained in addiction will be roped in to assist patients. The duration of a patient's stay will depend on the magnitude of their problem, but the minimum stay for alcoholics will be 14 days, while the minimum stay for drug addicts will be 21 days.

Thankfully, Bokete and Kgobe are not reliant on the alcohol levy fund to build the rehab centre. I say, 'thankfully' because they would probably receive 'pennies', if anything at all, since the Alcohol Levy Fund monies are often abused by various government departments and are used to buy cars, fix fences and other duties, completely unrelated to curtailing the occurrence of substance abuse in Botswana, (refer to Mmegi Newspaper archived articles titled Audit Reveals Abuse of Alcohol Levy and Crumbs go to Addicts and Alcoholics from Alcohol Levy Fund).

'Ikageng is not being funded by the Alcohol Levy Fund. We will approach them at some stage, but we have decided not to go that route,' responded Bokete when asked if they would solicit funds from the Alcohol Levy Fund.  Substance abuse rehabilitation at any centre is expensive, and therefore one would ponder how the average Motswana in need of treatment, yet finds themselves in financial straits, will afford to pay for the services?

'We haven't decided on costs yet because it is still a bit early but we will approach government to ask if we can tap into the Alcohol Levy Fund to assist those who cannot afford to pay for treatment,' Bokete said. The news of Ikageng Rehabilitation Centre opening in the future is bittersweet, because while we have to wait for years for it to be realised, school children, parents, and many other people are in dire need of the assistance this centre will offer.  There truly is light at the end of the tunnel!