It was well over two years ago when a group of local doctors first broke ground for the construction of Sidilega Private Hospital in Block 7, Gaborone and the act culminated into the launch of the multi-million Pula state-of-the-art health facility on October 17, 2019.
The hospital is a 110-bed facility developed to be a leading international-standard healthcare provider of a variety of specialist procedures. Sidilega hospital group, led primarily by renowned practicing medical professionals with a wealth of experience in the Botswana health sector, will at full capacity have a staff complement of 400 employees, provide primary, secondary and tertiary health services.
It boasts services and facilities such as ambulatory care, diagnostics, and therapeutics care services with a strong focus on preventative care.
“All key operational staff have been recruited and trained and the hospital is billed to officially open for patient care in November 2019,” said Sidilega Hospital CEO, Suresh Menon, who also said that the hospital is still at 40 percent of its planned staff complement (146 employees of the expected 400).
Officially launching the facility, the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Bogolo Kenewendo, said the government investment arm Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) commissioned a P150m investment into the construction, purchasing of state-of-the-art equipment and establishment of the facility in 2018.
Sidilega shareholders have collectively invested P80 million into the project.
“This hospital establishment has enhanced the entire Botswana economic standing for the better, even just from its completion. Through the partnership between the Botswana Government via BDC, and Sidilega, we are celebrating the creation of 200 jobs during construction and 460 jobs at full operation of the facility,” she said, noting that the launch of the facility also celebrates the creation of skills development opportunities that are relevant to the needs of local demand.
BDC Acting Managing Director, Moatlhodi Lekaukau, said BDC’s investment in Sidilega is part of a robust campaign to meet the government’s vision to invest the P560 million budgeted for quality health provision.
Lekaukau also noted that the facility encourages medical tourism which in turn encourages foreign investors to set up in Botswana because they are assured of good quality healthcare for their loved ones and employees.