Home > News > MVA Fund Holds the First ever Return work to Conference

An effective Return to Work (RTW) model for employees injured in motor vehicle accidents should allow faster recovery from trauma and resumption of work at minimal costs, the Finance & Development Planning Assistant Hon. Minister Dr. Gloria Somolokae has said. Dr. Somolokae said when properly planned and implemented, a successful RTW model not only saves the employer associated recruitment, training, replacement and post injury costs, but upholds employer benefits and organizational efficiency.

Officially opening the 2011 Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF) RTW Conference and Workshop held in Gaborone on November 9, Dr. Somolokae said therefore RTW dispels employer misconceptions that huge resources are required to transform the work environment to accommodating people with reduced degrees of ability due to road crashes.

According to the Finance & Development Planning Assistant Minister, “Accommodating employees post injury or illness shows the existence of well-thought of and ideal organizational sustainability strategies, a highly motivated workforce and appreciation by the community at large. While to the injured party, the levels of psychosocial concerns related to the adverse effects of unemployment are reduced.

As the Conference brought together sister Funds from Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland, including international participants and other stakeholders, there was ample opportunity to explore the full benefits of effective injury management systems and rehabilitation, focusing on early recovery and resumption of duty and clearly defined world class RTW programmes for road traffic crash victims.

As long as we continue to have road traffic crashes, the challenges of work absenteeism, lost productivity negatively impacting the economy and permanent disability remain. If left unmanaged, the cost of prolonged recovery becomes unsustainable, may ultimately not benefit the injured person, seriously diminishing the chance of regaining functionality, over time. Since there is no substitute for effective injury prevention strategies, we should undertake our daily activities and management of our lives with minimum exposure to risk.

“She said the incisive Conference’s theme: “Best Chance to Normal Life, Ability Beyond Disability”, acknowledges the vulnerability of persons living with various forms of injuries, challenging employers to assist incumbents unleash their full potential.”

 

She said Article 3 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons Living with Disabilities forms the bedrock of Botswana’s National PolicyShe said Article 3 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons Living with Disabilities forms the bedrock of Botswana’s National Policy for Care of People with Disabilities in line with the Vision 2016 goals. According to the UN Convention, principles to be adhered to Rights for People with Disabilities include respect and acceptance, individual autonomy, equal opportunity, gender equality, independence, non-discrimination, effective participation and inclusion in society. Respect for the evolving capabilities and rights for children with disabilities to preserve their identities.

She revealed that out of MVAF Botswana’s estimated 4756 claimants requiring constant medical assistance, 951 had sustained serious spinal cord, head and other multiple injuries. The day-and a- half Conference provided a golden opportunity on how best the victims including those similarly disabled under different circumstances could be rehabilitated to resume their normal duties.

MVAF Botswana Board Deputy Chairman Tendekani Malebeswa said as the Conference is the first of its kind, in Botswana, its deliberations should form the basis for future RTW developments within the Botswana labour environment.

Malebeswa said: “We should reduce road crashes in accordance to WHO’s classification as more of a public health concern than the domain of the transport sector. Since the net effect of road crashes has become a health concern, based on empirical evidence, the UN declared 2011 to 2020, a ‘Decade of Action for Road Safety’ as a mitigating intervention.”

Summarizing Conference objectives, MVAF Botswana CEO Cross Kgosidiile said that in providing a framework for the development of RTW strategies it was necessary to identify influencing factors and best practices. “The Conference is about RTW, which has become crucial to both labour affairs as well as the rehabilitation process. We should motivate employers to develop and implement RTW policies and programmes in their respective work environments”

Kgosidiile said the Fund established in Botswana in 1987 underwent two legislative reviews in 1998 and 2007. The latter has become the most significant as it broadened the scope of MVAF’s mandate, transforming its compensation model from a fault to a hybrid system. Unlike the old fault-based model, under which the Fund’s liability was based upon negligence of the driver of the injured party, the 2007 Act provided universal medical care and rehabilitation of those injured in road crashes. “In its present setting, both the Fund and claimants derive value as the latter gains functional independence; MVAF achieves significant savings in income support and long term care.”

At the recent Deloitte Best Company to Work for Award ceremony, MVAF Botswana scooped 3 awards for being the Overall Best Organization and Best Parastatal to work for in Botswana and the Standard of Excellence Achievers Award. The Namibian counterpart also demonstrated service excellence when it came 2nd and 5th for the country and Southern Africa ratings, respectively.