Africa-Press – Botswana. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has provision of a private psychiatrists who assists officers upon their return from engagements outside the country.
The Director for Regional Cooperation Ambassador Nkoloi Nkoloi told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) recently that the psychiatrist provides counselling services and is accessible to the entire staff.
He said the ministry encouraged officers returning from service outside the country to attend counselling to help them settle back into the country and adjust to the level of life back home.
For her part, the Acting permanent secretary in the ministry, Ms Lorato Plaatjie explained that the standard tour of service for officers assigned outside the country was four years, adding that this put them in a position to prepare themselves to return home after those years.
Ms Plaatjie said the ministry continues to manage and coordinate Botswana’s foreign policy and advance the country’s national interests abroad.
She said the ministry worked closely with other ministries through its diplomatic representatives abroad (High Commissions and Embassies), to engage the international community in the interest of the country and its people.
PAC chairperson Mr Wynter Mmolotsi had asked if there were any counselling arrangements for officers returning from international service.Mr Mmolotsi was of the view that officers live large when they are in foreign missions, adding that they were well taken care of including their children, but when they come back they become like any normal government employee.
Mr Mmolotsi said it was important that they be assisted so that they adjust back to the level of life back home.
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