Old Naledi Covid-19 positive residents feel discriminated

Some residents of old Naledi who have been affected directly by the Covid-19 cases that recently hit Therisanyo Primary School teachers and students, feel neglected in relation to the attendant healthcare they are expecting.

Last week over 12 positive cases were reported at the primary school and more tests for the contacts were conducted. In an interview with the Midweek Sun, one of the affected parents, Titose Lentswe said her son’s results came out positive on Sunday but up to now no health assistance has been given to the family.

Instead they were instructed to pack their bags and wait for the bus to collect them. “My son is doing Standard 7, he was tested on Friday at school and was released to come home. The results came positive on Sunday and everyone in the yard was tested and we are still waiting for our results but it is really difficult to isolate in this place,” she lamented.

Lentswe, who is a nursing mother stays in a yard with 15 other tenants and they share most things including the toilet. She said it is not easy to confine her child in one place as he sometimes sneaks out to go and play with others in the street.

“I am struggling with this child because I am a nursing mother with an 11-month old child, and we all share a one-room dwelling,” she said.

Another parent, Ephraim Ntsimane said his nephew tested positive on Saturday but since then they have never been assisted by any health professional. They stay in a yard with over 20 people and share one toilet as well.

“We were all tested on Saturday after my nephew tested positive but until now the health professionals never came back to us. We are still waiting for the results but these children are just playing with others as normal. It is not easy to keep them in the house the whole day,” he said.

While the exact number of positive cases is unknown, Naledi North Councilor, Oarabile Motlaleng is distressed, as he also believes Old Naledi residents are neglected.

“I plead with the Covid 19 Task Team to address this issue because as we speak all the students who tested positive have been sent home while the teachers have been quarantined at a safe place. “I believe we are being undermined because we are not treated like other people who have been given proper care and medical attention. We are pleading for government’s attention because the whole Old Naledi might perish due to hunger and the disease,” said the Councillor. Currently there are 1350 confirmed Batswana positive cases among which 575 have recovered and 764 are active and 11 deceased.

Giving an update on Monday Director, Health Services Dr. Malaki Tshipayagae said they took a decision do home quarantines or isolations because the hospital is nearing full capacity.

He added that most positive people do not require hospital admission because they are still active. “One in 100 positive people are asymptomatic, 14 percent reflect symptoms while five percent are critical because in most instances they have underlying diseases and these are the people who are admitted,” Dr Tshipayagae said.

While a number of students have tested positive, Dr Tshipayagae said it is important to allow children to be isolated at homes with their parents.

“It is important for children to be isolated at home to reduce trauma. We believe they will cope well when they are in the care of their parents,” he said.