Africa-Press – Botswana. Residents of Kgosing and surrounding wards in Maun will no longer travel long distances to access pharmaceutical services thanks to the opening of a new pharmacy in their location.
Strategically located at the Pub complex opposite Maun Clinic, the Bet Pharmacy is 100 percent citizen owned by Ms Frengie Memo who originates from Mhalapitsa in the Tswapong region.
The pharmacy opened doors towards the end of last year and Ms Memo, a pharmacist by profession revealed in an interview that her aim was to bring services closer to the people and improve health status of the community.
She observed that health facilities were overwhelmed by an increase in demand for health care services including drugs and medicine. The facility, she said offered first class pharmaceutical health care, relevant in the current COVID-19 era.
It also offers services such as patient counseling, travel health, first aid kits, acute and chronic medication; tests for diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol and pregnancy as well as free home delivery of services.
Ms Memo appreciated the support she got from residents since the pharmacy started operating noting that residents welcomed the facility as it had reduced the distance they had been travelling to access pharmaceutical services and health care.
Members of the community, she observed were health conscious as they always came for supplements while some came for counselling on appropriate therapies in order to promote healthy lifestyle.
Ms Memo explained that she had established a rapport with both government and private health facilities as they often referred clients to her if they had shortage of drugs.
“As a pharmacist I wanted to save lives by offering high level customer focused pharmaceutical products and services to my clientele to improve quality of life. I am grateful as I enjoy a massive support from my clients,” she added.
Ms Memo who has worked in several private hospitals explained that Maun had a lot of potential in terms of business opportunities noting that currently, there were few pharmacies and she believed that the new pharmacy would enhance pharmaceutical services and support general health practitioners and other businesses.
She stated that it was important to consider not only the customers but also how the business could reach out and support other businesses.
However, she revealed that starting a pharmacy was not easy as it required large sums of money upfront before generating any positive cash flow or returns.
She noted that she received financial assistance from Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA).
Ms Memo appealed to Batswana to continue supporting local businesses so that they grow and create employment opportunities for young people. She said she intended to spread wings and open another pharmacy at Gumare but securing a plot and pharmacists were a challenge.
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