Thato Chwaane
29 October 2007
Palapye — There are only six doctors that cover the Serowe and Palapye region under the Central District Council.
Dr Kabamba Ilunga said last week that they are overwhelmed as they cover 48 health facilities in an area with an estimated population of 167, 000. Briefing journalists touring the Infectious Disease Care Clinic (IDCC), Ilunga compared that number to the 32 doctors under the Gaborone City Council.
Palapye IDCC has 651 patients. The sister-in-charge of the clinic and senior registered nurse, Naomi Phang, said that on Mondays, they have adherence counselling sessions, while Tuesdays are reserved for prescriptions. On average, she said, they have 40 to 46 people who come for treatment.
She said that counseling is paramount as the patients have to go on a lifelong treatment. Phang said nurses are trained to help the pharmacy technician. She said everyone is screened there and all services are provided. She said they follow up those who are defaulters with family welfare educators who visit their homes. Of the clients on ARVs, 412 are women. More women come for testing than men. The men tend to avoid going back.
The Principal Pharmacy Technician, Bushi Maroba, said sometimes patients do not grasp instructions on how to use the products. He, however, said that there are none on the third line of treatment.
Ilunga added that they are not planning on having anyone on that line. He also suggested that only a few have gone on to the second line of treatment.
Maroba said they still do not prescribe treatment that needs to be refrigerated. He admitted that when that time comes, it is going to be a challenge for poor patients.
Meanwhile, Kediretswe Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission programme (PMTCT) support group comes on Thursdays targeting all women. A volunteer, Annah Chilume, said they also target their family members and partners and advise on infant feeding.
She said they have gone on sponsored walks to raise funds that would go towards PMTCT awareness campaigns. The group also holds health talks in clinics. Chilume said that when they started, the group had 22 volunteers and this number has gone down to 15 active members. The volunteers receive training from ACHAP, however they do not receive any allowances. She said they make home visits or see patients at the clinic.
Chilume said the group has managed to break out of the stigma and mothers in the programme now carry the formula of powdered milk without being shy. She said they continue to talk to those who are repeat clients in the PMTCT programme and those who drop out.
Still in Palapye, founder of Male Fight Trust and volunteer in the support group, Boniface Mankanku says they bring men to be part of the PMTCT programme.
Male Fight Trust targets out of school males of ages between 15 and 30 and also helps them further their studies at brigades. Mankanku said they have 45 male members.
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