The Voice (Francistown)
Kamogelo Ramojela
6 May 2008
Mahalapye — Some wards at the new Mahalapye Hospital are not yet opened due to staffing difficulties. This came to the attention of the Vice President Lt. General Mompati Merafhe during a meeting with heads of departments yesterday.
According to the report, surgical and tuberculosis (TB) wards have not been functioning since the hospital started operating in February this year.
The 250-bed hospital with state of the art equipment and machinery is faced with a serious shortage of medical personnel in addition to the accommodation crisis.
So far, the report reveals that there are only 60 houses for over 300 members of staff. Shortage of drugs at the institution, which is attributed to irregular and erratic supply from the Central Medical Stores is also a concern.
Nonetheless other services such as physiotherapy are offered at the facility while a new unit of accident and emergency has been established.
The report indicates that 212 posts have been approved and that they would be filled gradually though the main problem lies with the recruitment of some specialised posts.
Some of the successful programmes that the hospital boasts about are the malnutrition programme, routine HIV testing and Prevention of Mother To Child HIV Transmission with over 85 percent enrolment. More than 5 000 clients receive the Anti Retroviral Therapy at the Mahalapye site out of which 3 200 are administered in the hospital alone.
The old hospital building has been handed over to the District Administration and the Mahalapye Sub District Council. Mr Mothibi Monyakeng, the Mahalapye Sub District Officer, said some departments including that of immigration, veterinary and roads are expected to use the buildings. He however said the relocation would be delayed, as they are waiting for funds to renovate the structures. BOPA
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