Africa-Press – Botswana. The relocation of primary health services to local councils is a step in the right direction to turn around the healthcare system by addressing issues that compromised quality health care provision.
Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ketlhalefile Motshegwa made these remarks during a recent tour of Beetsha clinic to appreciate challenges faced by employees.
He noted that they believed the councils could do much better to ensure communities access health services closer as well as attend to challenges well on time.
As such, he urged employees to be inspired, as the councils would take the responsibility to ensure health facilities are well resourced to motivate them to produce quality results.
He said well-resourced workplaces could stimulate an environment that enhanced productivity and job satisfaction, leading to increased overall performance.
Mr Motshegwa assured employees that challenges such as shortage of resources and staff would be prioritised and encouraged them to work as a unit, saying the government recognised their efforts towards saving lives and promoting healthy lifestyles.
The nurse in charge at the clinic, Mr Walter Ovoya informed the minister and his entourage that the clinic was faced with a serious shortage of staff, citing that 50 percent of staff was hired on temporary basis.
He said six nurses manned the clinic, one was a midwife nurse who served three clinics of Gudigwa, Beetsha and Eretsha, noting that transport was also a serious challenge as their catchment area was vast.
During weekends, he said one nurse on duty had to man all the three clinics and thus compromised delivery of quality health services to the communities.
“Currently, we are in a malaria season and we are overwhelmed as we have to see on average, more than 100 patients seeking health services in a day,” he added.
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