Africa-Press – Botswana. The average drug availability in Jwaneng district health facilities has improved from 64 per cent in December last year to 70 per cent as at January 20 this year, Dr Tankiso Thibelang of Jwaneng District Health Management Team (DHMT) has said.
Speaking during a kgotla meeting addressed by Jwaneng/Mabutsane Member of Parliament, Mr Mephato Reatile in Jwaneng on Monday (January 23), Dr Thibelang said availability of life-saving drugs in the district also improved from 80 to 84 per cent, while essential drugs’ availability improved from 59 to 75 per cent during the same period. She further said there was a slight improvement for non-essential drugs from 48 to 52 per cent.
Prior to that, Dr Thibelang acknowledged that the whole country had been experiencing drug shortage, a situation she said was addressed through dispensing alternative drugs.
She also said where there was acute shortage, they sought from other health facilities, including private pharmacies.
Nonetheless, she was optimistic that the situation would keep improving as more interventions were deployed.
Dr Thibelang was responding to residents’ concerns about shortage of medicines in various health facilities across the district they were experiencing.
One of the residents, also former Jwaneng mayor, Mr Bankinyana Montsiemang said the state of deteriorating drug availability in health facilities was a great concern which needed urgent attention.
“This issue needs to be addressed urgently because our facilities have also run short of drugs for non-communicable diseases,” he said.
On other issues, residents called on government to find a better place for old age pensioners to collect their pension.
“Initially pensioners collected money from the post office but they have now been relocated to queue in front of Choppies. That place is not safe,” said Mr Philip Lesedi.
For her part, the district officer, Ms Chenesani Thomba said consultations with the relevant authorities were ongoing to find a better and safer place for old age pensioners to collect their monthly allowances. She said that the current arrangement was not conducive and exposed beneficiaries to harsh weather. For his part, the area MP, Mr Reatile said following the end of a partnership between Botswana Post and Botswana Savings Bank (BSB), the latter had indicated that they would avail services in 200 places across the country effective April this year.
He hoped that the new contract would not only improve accessibility but would also address concerns for safety.
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