Africa-Press – Botswana. Metsimotlhabe Clinic has a staff complement of eight nurses, one healthcare auxiliary, one temporary pharmacy technician and two cleaners, Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Lawrence Ookeditse has told Parliament.
He said the clinic had a cluster doctor schedules two to three times weekly adding that the clinic catered for a population of about 11 597 as per the 2022 population census and was running without a maternity wing.
Mr Ookeditse stated that services were augmented by referrals to Julia Molefhe clinic and Princess Marina Hospital which were respectively the nearest 24-hour facility and referral hospital.
There is a critical shortage of pharmacy technicians due to inadequate permanent and pensionable positions, Mr Ookeditse said and explained that the ministry was currently in consultations with the Directorate of Public Service Management to avail vacant positions.
He said in the interim, Gaborone Health Management Team had hired a temporary pharmacy technician for a period of three months while awaiting the availability of positions by January 31 next year and subsequent employment of the cadre.
The minister pointed out that Metsimotlhabe Clinic was initially designed as a health post thus the infrastructural inadequacies currently experienced.
He said it was primarily for that reason that the services provided exceeded its operational space but said the ministry’s position was to upgrade all facilities originally designed as health posts to clinics.
Currently, the clinic structure has one consulting room, one office that also functioned as a consulting room for IDCC services, one room for screening, one room for dressing, injections and observations, Mr Ookeditse told Parliament.
He stated that it had a porta cabin with two rooms used for Sexual Reproductive Health services and HIV testing, and another two rooms used for child welfare clinic and storage for food rations.
Mr Ookeditse said the ministry was aware of infrastructure inadequacies at Metsimotlhabe Clinic and further acknowledged the need for the facility to be upgraded to effectively provide all services required by the community, as well as ensure that staff was adequately taken care of by providing proper ablutions and other sanitary services.
He said Gaborone DHMT had plans to construct water cistern toilets for patients which were pending due to shortage of funds.
The assistant minister said the clinic did not have an ambulance however, was supported by Mahlaku Lekganyane and Nkoyaphiri clinics.
Mr Ookeditse said Metsimotlhabe Clinic upgrade would be proposed in the next development plan due to inadequate funds and indicated that outreach services of the clinic covered existing mobile stops at Diphiring and Rakola which were within its catchment area.
Mmopane-Metsimotlhabe MP, Ms Helen Manyeneng had asked the minister if he was aware that Metsimotlhabe clinic was not adequately serving its community due to issues which had been reported but not attended to.
She asked if he was aware that the total number of working staff was nine out of which only two worked during weekends and took day offs.
Ms Manyeneng asked the minister if he was aware that the pharmacy technician worked on a three month contract and that there were limited rooms to consult patients and no observation room and office.
She further asked if the minister was aware that there was only one pit latrine shared by both men and women and another pit latrine for staff and no ambulance.
Ms Manyeneng asked if he would consider extending the clinic facility and provide mobile clinics to cater for catchments areas.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
