Makgato decries shortage of medical staff

Makgato was answering a question from Specially Elected Kgosi Isaac Titus at Ntlo Ya Dikgosi, who had wanted to know when the Ministry would consider posting a midwife nurse as well as constructing a staff house at Struizendam to improve service delivery. The Minister said shortage of medical staff and staff accommodation remain the Ministry’s concern. In the past it was reported that the patient to nurse ratio was as high as 30:1 instead of the internationally accepted standard of 10:1 something that might result in deaths due to limited patient care. She said the shortage of doctors and nurses in Botswana’s medical institutions is exacerbated by a number of factors, among them deplorable working conditions and uncompetitive salaries.

Makgato told Ntlo ya Dikgosi that they do not have plans of posting a midwife to Struizendam on a permanent basis due to shortage of this cadre countrywide. She, however, said weekly visits by a midwife from Bokspits clinic are conducted to the health post to provide midwifery services which on average attend to between six and seven ante -natal clients and one to 23 post-natal clients.