Botswana is witnessing a rise in deaths and hospital admissions whilst her neighbour and a significant trading partner – South Africa – lifts restrictions.
This is despite the fact that government has made vaccines accessible to almost all the eligible adult population.
The spike in infections and deaths was corroborated by the Minister of Health Edwin Dikoloti in his key address when receiving donations in the form of oxygen concentrators for Covid-19 from the country’s leading brewer, Kgalagadi Brewers Limited (KBL).
According to Covid-19 statistics updates gleaned from the Ministry’s website, as at Thursday 30 June 2022, between 19 June and 25th June, Botswana recorded 21 new deaths and 2351 new cases between the same dates.
Active cases stood at 4351.
Speaking at the donation ceremony by KBL, Dikoloti said, “The donation also comes at a time when Botswana is entering the fifth wave of COVID-19, characterized by an increase in hospitalizations and notable fatalities.”
As such, Dikoloti said: “This has the potential to create a burden to our health system as the number of cases keeps on rising.”
He added: “This current wave is yet reach its peak, so as a Ministry we are keeping an eye on the situation to ensure that we are prepared to manage it.”
As a Ministry of Health, Dikoloti said: “We therefore welcome KBL’s generous donation of 50 10L oxygen concentrators, which comes just six months after we received another batch from them in December 2021.”
“We are also grateful to receive pulse oximeters. This medical equipment, which I am informed is worth P1.2 million, will help improve provision of critical healthcare services for the more severe cases, for which we are immensely grateful,” said Dikoloti.
Over and above this most recent donation, KBL, Dikoloti said, continues to offer its Gaborone Chibuku facility as a Covid-19 data collection and vaccination centre.
“At a time when vaccination rates especially boosters, are becoming sluggish, I wish to encourage all eligible Batswana to utilise this vaccination centre or any health facility nearby, to get their COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots, when due,” the Minister said.
For its part, KBL said it has noted the relatively small yet urgent uptick in Covid-19 infections in the country. It said in response to the matter and continuance of our commitment to the health and safety of Batswana, KBL has availed additional critical resources to aid Government efforts. Resources include 600 Pulse Oximeters and 50 – 10L Oxygen Concentrators.
In a statement, the country’s leading brewer said, the total equipment donation amounted to P1.1millon and was handed to the Ministry of Health to aid the government’s efforts. This comes after the first donation of 50 Oxygen Concentrators in December 2021, the statement explained.
KBL Managing Director, Mr Carlos Bernitt noted that the equipment donation would assist front liners in providing quality, critical care services to patients with severe Covid-19 cases.
“We encourage Batswana to continue adhering to Covid-19 protocols by sanitizing, wearing a mask and maintaining social distance,” Bernitt was quoted as saying in the statement.
