The clinic will provide all round clinical care
VICTORIA MARUMO
As though to seal the band on the agenda behind the annually celebrated International Women’s Day, Dr Kelebogile Champane has kicked off the year on a high note, when she officially launched her own medical facility, Premium Medical Centre. The clinic, located in Extension 2, Gaborone, was successfully launched in a ceremony held at the premises on March 8, and is now fully in practice. The event was nothing like the ordinary, with the list of invited guests consisting of high-profile officials, including Minster of Health and Wellness, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, Former Minister of Health and Co-Chair of the Global HIV Prevention Coalition, Dr Sheila Dinotshe Tlou, Member of Parliament for Gaborone Central, Tumisang Healy, Champane’s mother, a few close friends and her medical staff.
Dr Kelly Champane, as she is affectionately known, is a top accomplished Family Medicine Specialist, with a collection of qualifications, including a Diploma in Dermatology, Certificate in Aesthetics medicine, Certificate in Psychology and a Certificate in Drug and Alcohol Abuse management. A true believer of attaining excellence, Champane is currently pursuing her PhD in Public Health via correspondence on a Botswana based research topic. Prior to returning home and opening her own establishment, Champane worked in Australia, which is where she attained a majority of her qualifications, for 11 years since the year 2014. Some businesses have since closed down due to the effects of Covid-19 however Champagne saw this as a perfect opportunity to serve and provide her country with premium medical care.
Premium Medical Centre is a ten-room facility but only four are presently in use and the hope is that the entire building will be in full service as time goes on. The main purpose of the clinic is to provide a one stop shop for Batswana, with a wide range of services, including Family Medicine and General Medicine Consultations, Drug and Alcohol addiction management, laboratory services and Psychology services just to mention a few. “I actually want to extend my sincerest gratitude and applaud government for the efforts and money channeled towards educating us; I am a product of such efforts and today, these are the results,” said Champane. In a world where a number of students sometimes do not return home after their studies, Champagne explained how she felt the need to return home and give back to the nation as a way of reciprocating government’s efforts.
Dr Sheila Tlou is a firm advocate of the rights and empowerment of women, with a long-standing history of work dedicated towards the cause. The visionary leader, felt more than honored to be able to witness the launch of the clinic, drawing satisfaction from the idea of It being run and owned by a young Motswana woman. “I was very happy when I heard you were coming home Kelly, and believe this is exactly what we mean when we speak on women empowerment and relating it with global health diplomacy, “she mentioned. Tlou wished Champane well on her medical journey going forward and spoke on her hopes for the Ministry of Health to support Champagne in bettering the health sector of Botswana.
Minister of Health and wellness, Dr Edwin Dikoloti expressed his excitement at the opening of the clinic, explaining how as a Ministry, they are happy for Champagne and extremely proud of her latest milestone. He further spoke on the Covid-19 pandemic, how numbers were on a rise and as such, on behalf of the Ministry of health and Wellness, alongside government, are grateful knowing efforts were also being made by private sector organizations to improve the health sector in Botswana. “I there is any lesson the advent of Covid-19 has taught us, is that we achieve a lot more as a united front and can only overcome if we continue to work hand in hand to address and tackle the problems facing us as a country, ‘he added.