GM’s walk benefits Letlhakane Hospital

The Orapa Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines (OLDM) General Manager’s (GM) Charity Walk which has been providing pscho-social support for orphaned and vulnerable children in Letlhakane will this year help build a maternity wing at Letlhakane Primary Hospital. 

This was revealed by the OLDM General Manager, Bakani Motlhabane on Saturday in Orapa. Motlhabane said that it is important for the private sector to play a role in the community they operate in, so that it complements and supports Government in providing good heath care services. 

“I am happy to note that while our Mine Hospital will continue to serve as a referral hospital for the Boteti Sub District, we are making a commitment that the proceeds of this year’s walk and funds accumulated from previous walks will go towards the building of a Maternity wing at the Letlhakane Primary Hospital.”

He said that this project, which is expected to commence soon will assist in enhancing the maternal and child health care needs of the Sub District and also ease congestion in the maternity ward. The GM said that the Maternity Wing will also enhance the right to life through safe maternity delivery. Motlhabane revealed that the project was jointly identified by OLDM, the Boteti community and Local Authority counterparts. 

He said that GM’s walk for charity which started in 2002 is one of the many examples that define the true partnership between Debswana, its employees, business partners and the community of Boteti. He said events such as these provide the opportunity to make meaningful impact in the lives of the needy. The GM said they have been able to build eight houses for destitute families in response to the Presidential Housing appeal for the needy through this initiative.

“As you may be aware, OLDM has a CIS programme with an annual fund of P3.7 million to assist with projects across multiple focus areas including health and education, environment and sports development,” he said. 

He informed the gathering that the theme for this year’s GM’s walk is “50 years of Orapa Kimberlite- 50 years of diamonds for development’. He said this was in line with recognition of the important contribution that diamonds have made to the development of our nation since they were discovered in 1967.