Thato Moseki
6 November 2009
Developers of Bokamoso Private Hospital, a multi-million pula state-of-the-art health facility, are fine-tuning technical and statutory processes with a view to opening the hospital late November or early December.
When completed, it is projected the health facility will have cost approximately P700 million and will have cutting-edge health, telecommunications and building technology developed with the expert technical consultancy of two experienced hospital development teams from America.
Bokamoso Private Hospital, which is located in Mmopane near Gaborone, will have 230 beds 39 of which will be for a Rehabilitation Centre to be built under Phase 2 of construction. Phase One involves the main hospital facilities which are due for launch and public opening soon.
Bokamoso Private Hospital is owned by the Bokamoso Private Hospital Trust that was formed by the Botswana Public Officers Medical Aid Scheme (BPMAS) and PULA Medical Aid Fund (PULA). It is a private not-for-profit health care provider that will distinguish itself through its skilled staff that will provide patient-centred care of the highest clinical excellence in a state-of-the-art facility.
Responding to enquiries from Mmegi Business Week, a spokesperson for the hospital's developers said the developers were presently preparing for a statutory licensing process to be conducted by the Ministry of Health next Monday. The official said the main hospital building was complete and equipment was being installed and tested.
"The launch of Bokamoso Private Hospital is imminent," said the spokesperson. "More than 250 employees have been recruited and are currently undergoing training on hospital procedures, systems and processes.
"The hospital is currently preparing for a statutory licensing process to be conducted by the Ministry of Health that will begin on Monday 16 November 2009. We anticipate that Bokamoso Private Hospital will open shortly after this licensing process is completed, in November 2009 (week 48 or 49)."
According to the spokesperson, a media briefing and familiarisation tour of the hospital has been provisionally planned for November 12. During the briefing, further details and the exact date on which the Hospital will open to the public and receive its first patients will be shared with the media.
It is understood a formal launch featuring high-level government, parastatal and private sector players will be held following the media launch. Delegates to the launch will also include representatives of the University of Botswana, which has trained some of the nurses involved in specialised services. UB also hopes to tap into the experience of the American hospital developers involved in the construction of Bokamoso.
Bokamoso will feature operating theatres and radiology and pathology laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art technology. An advanced Information Technology Department will support Electronic Medical Records and Telemedicine capability with satellite connectivity. The hospital will provide orthopaedics, cardiac care, neurosciences and oncology specialties, and have a major trauma programme. An LDRP (Labour, Delivery, Recovery and Post-Partum) Obstetrics Unit is part of a comprehensive Women's and Children's Health Care Programme.
Architects involved in the Hospital's development have said the facility is designed to radiate a warm and homely environment for patients and guests. One way in which this is being achieved is through the embellishment of the front office and placement of catering facilities near the entrance.
During a recent tour, Chief Architect Gino Casieri said local artists had been invited to submit works to decorate the hospital's front office and thus radiate the warmth and colour that the designers are aiming for.
"We are trying to warm the hospital up with facilities like the coffee shop being in the front office," Casieri said. "We are also trying to embellish the front area with a lot of pictures and artworks so that it is not only a hospital but a place where one can show one's culture and art."We will use this front office as an art gallery for the use of local artists. We had a competition inviting people to submit their works of art which we will hang out the walls to express local art. There will be a lot of foreigners coming through this facility and it will be an opportunity for local artists to have their works on show."
Casieri explained that the entire hospital is centred on the courtyard which will be used for leisure and rest, featuring a well-designed and maintained garden with tables and chairs.
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