John Seakgosing

"We are not spared from this global crisis and if current trends continue, well before the middle of this century NCDs will be responsible for more than three-quarters of the deaths in the country."

"The impact of the growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases is not only on the medical health, but on the economy; in direct care costs and lost productivity."

"There is growing evidence of collusion between some government officials, pharmacies and private doctors to steal government anti-retroviral drugs for private sale."

"We will install electronically operated security doors at our pharmaceutical stores to improve the safe keeping of ARVs and other drugs in our health facilities. Stern action will be taken against those found to be illegally profiting from the sale of these drugs."

"That is how alarming the situation is and hence my statement that cancer is threatening to decimate our nations, to make matters worse, the burden and the mortality from the three is on decline whereas that of cancer is on the rise."

"A number of those cancers that could be preventable develop because either our communities have not had enough sensitisation or education or we have not adequately addressed primary prevention."

"He said the third that are curable were not curable due to late diagnosis, inadequate screening programmes, or because of lack of enough expertise and treatment modalities to effectively cure the affected individuals."

"You have been adequately trained and the expectation is that you should always act in accordance with the demands of your job. You are nurses and doctors and you should conduct yourselves accordingly."

"Your task is simple because you already know where the drugs are likely to be and you have all the liberty to call the warehouse. This is not a joke, and so you need to hold fast to it."

"These are cases where women and girls bled heavily and ended up coming for help. Others had their wombs rotting and had to seek help. Others were arrested by police and brought to us for medical help."

"I lost both my parents at a tender age and today I am someone in the society because of the love and comfort I received from the church and members of the society that built me."

"Being an orphan is not easy so what you are doing as a church is really a blessing. We are known to be a people of love so what we are doing is love and we know that it is blessed to give than to receive and we know that giving builds the giver."

"Once I received a case of a girl who was kept in a kraal. The girl was pregnant and had to endure the smell of the manure and was constantly in danger of being attacked by misfits."

"Even though farmers in the country experienced challenges of flooding of fields due to heavy rains received across the country, I am informed that they managed to plant about 34 195 hectares this year as compared to 29 658 hectares last year. Of the total planted last year, 31 895 hectares are for commercial farmers in Pandamatenga. This is a sign of commitment and dedication. The production ranges from 2.5 tons to three tons per hector compared to one ton per hector last year. This is indeed great success."

"Although climate change has adverse effects, it also creates opportunities for us to consider other crops that previously would not do well in our environment. Therefore there is need for farmers to change their mindset and search for opportunities in the midst of challenges."

"Construction of road networks and drainage systems funded by the African Development Bank and government of Botswana is on-going at present. Bush clearing of 2500 hectares of small holder farms is almost complete. This project will assist farmers to access their fields during the rainy season and also increase the hectorage under production at present. This is part of government efforts to assist the farmers."

"As a health practitioner, personally I am witness to the fact that lack of adequate food is the source of many health problems."