At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Debswana Diamond Mine contributed towards the construction of an isolation center in Mmatshumo as part of an effort to help curb the spread of the pandemic at the time.
Built for P2.4 million, with Debswana contributing P1.9 million or 79 percent, the Mmatshumo isolation centre project was intended to support the district health management team’s control of the spread of COVID-19, a shot in the arm for Mmatshumo which previously relied on a clinic which was used for all COVID-19 related matters.
“When COVID-19 intensified, there was fear and panic because we did not know how to control and contain COVID-19. Debswana built the isolation centre and handed it to us, which became very helpful,” said Kemoreile Mothali, Chief Regional Nurse at Mmatshumo Clinic. He said the government then installed the 23 beds in the isolation centre.
“The first patients were admitted in September 2020. There were 11 students at the time. In total, we admitted and discharged a total of 470 since the opening of the isolation centre,” he revealed, adding that the isolation centre played a major role in saving the Boteti area from COVID-19.
According to the Village Development Committee (VDC) Secretary Neo Molao, at the peak of the pandemic, ordinary daily activities came to a standstill because of movement restrictions. She said the isolation centre assisted in managing and containing COVID-19.
Gasethata Oagile, Councilor for Mmatshumo adds that at the peak of COVID-19, the village Chief was at some point bedridden for 10 days. For his part, Chief Keletshwaretse Phetogong confirmed that indeed he contracted COVID-19 but was kept at the isolation centre for 10 days, which helped him recover without putting his family at risk of contracting COVID-19. He thanked Debswana because of the superior healthcare he received at the isolation centre.
