22 Jan 2013

 Tswapong North MP, Mr Prince Maele has told residents of Goo-Sekgweng and Goo-Tau that the Public Health Bill seeks to protect the nation.

Through the bill, he said people from other countries with cases of Swine Flu and Ebola would be required to provide certificate of immunisation as these were highly deadly and contagious diseases.

He explained that failure to produce certificate would leave immigrants with the option of either returning home or being immunised at their own expenses. “We have a small population and a case of Ebola could wipe us all out,” he said.

The proposed bill also allows children aged 16 years and above to undergo an HIV test without parental acknowledgement. This, he said, emanated from the believe that minor as they were, they have started engaging in sexual activities thereby putting their lives at risk.  

In addition, the bill assists medical students  at the University of Botswana by appealing to Batswana to support organ donation to enable students to undertake research. However, Mr Maele said there would be no compensation for the organs donated.

The MP further said the law will protect Botswana from being a dumping site for dangerous chemicals and also protects the nation from unethical advertisement from traditional doctors who claim to cure HIV/AIDS.

He further briefed the residents about the Back-to-School programme and urged them to take advantage as it would only last for three years. He said children under 11 years could return to primary schools while those who are less than 18 years could be admitted at junior secondary school. The age limit for senior secondary school is 25 years and 35 for tertiary institutions.

The programme is aimed at encouraging people who left school for various reasons such as pregnancy and illness to continue with their education, adding such people would be given priority over those who have not performed well. ENDS