The University of Botswana has donated 80 litres of Topical Solution hand sanitizers to Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital (SKMTH). The hand sanitizers were handed over during a short ceremony held at the University of Botswana’s Faculty of Medicine on April 7, 2020.
The donation is part of the University’s contribution towards alleviating the surging burden of COVID-19 on the country’s health sector. The SKMTH has been designated by the Government of Botswana as the principal site for management of COVID-19 patients.
Handing over the sanitizers, the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Ishmael Kasvosve, said UB was committed towards playing its role in addressing national challenges through innovations and expertise.
Professor Kasvosve said UB would continue production of sanitizers to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Botswana has been experiencing a critical shortage of hand sanitizers since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic.
Receiving the donation, SKMTH Commissioning Manager, Dr Thato Moumakwa, expressed gratitude for the donation. Dr Moumakwa said currently the sanitizers were scarce hence very expensive.
He urged UB to increase production and donate more to the hospital. He said considering the quantity of the product that would be required by the hospital, the donation would go a long way in reducing the financial burden on the hospital.
The production of hand sanitizers was initiated by students of the School of Pharmacy in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Botswana led by the Head of School of Pharmacy, Professor Paul Adiukwu; Ms. Motshegwana Tebogo, a lecturer in the School of Pharmacy; and Laboratory Technicians of the School: Ms. Seitebatso Zwinila and Mr. Tebogo Gabatlhaolwe.
The Deputy Dean in the Faculty of Health Science, Dr Mabel Magowe, Acting Dean and Acting Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Doreen Ramagola-Masire and Dr Japhter Masunge graced the occasion.