Africa-Press – Botswana. Ministry of Health has been renting four warehouses in Gaborone West Industrial since August 2018 for storage of supplies.
The warehouses belong to AP Holdings and Chemical Cooperation.
Health minister, Dr Edwin Dikoloti revealed this Thursday when responding to a question from Kanye North MP, Mr Thapelo Letsholo.
Dr Dikoloti said three of the warehouses, each measuring 555.7m2, were located at plot 22043 and belonged to AP Holdings.
He further said the other one measuring 750m2 was in plot 24 016 and belonged to Chemical Cooperation.
“The monthly rental for three warehouses at plot 22043 is PI7 813 33 per warehouse.
The cost for security is P30 000 per month for two guards during the day and three guards during the night.
This brings the total monthly expenditure to P83 440.
The monthly rental for the warehouse at plot 22016 is P26 500 per month and security is not provided at this warehouse,” he explained.
Dr Dikoloti stated that the warehouse on plot 22016 stored infant formula for Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV Programme.
He said the reasons for central storage were that the ministry bought supplies in bulk for the whole country.
“Bulk buying makes the commodities cheaper and convenient as there are no infant formula manufacturers in Botswana.
The districts also have shortage of storage space to keep the quantities required per facility.
Central storage enhances monitoring of stock and consumption rates for forecasting purposes, thus reducing wastage,” he noted.
He further said the warehouse on plot 22043 stored Community Home Based Care commodities (diapers, linen savers, clinical and domestic waste plastics, deodorizers and antiseptic toiletries).
He added that the centralisation of the stores was also meant for improved stock monitoring.
Mr Letsholo had asked the minister to state the sizes and location of warehouses rented in and around Gaborone by the ministry, and further state the number of years the ministry had rented those warehouses.
He also wanted to know who owned the warehouses.
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