LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
Kalafhi Medical Center, a growing enterprise addressing the healthcare inequalities in Botswana and Africa
Matlhogonolo Mongwa-Mouwane is the founding director and practicing doctor at Kalafhi Medical Center in Botswana. She is also a wife and mother, and a thinking, growing and dynamic individual with nine years of experience in the health sector. Her lifelong mission is to transform Botswana's healthcare system to bring it to par with some of the world’s best healthcare systems, with a vision for Africa to become a medical tourism destination/health hub. She started the business in 2018 and today it has 51 employees.
Lioness Weekender spoke to the mission-driven Matlhogonolo Mongwa-Mouwane about her passion for making health-care accessible and patient centric, contributing to healthier communities and families.
What does your company do?
A growing enterprise of integrated medical centers that offer a variety of health care services. Since its inception five years ago, Kalafhi Medical Center has grown to 4 general practice clinics, 3 pharmacies, 2 physiotherapy clinics and 1 smart day hospital underway.
What inspired you to start your company?
Our journey started when I was working as a doctor in a rural clinic, witnessing the struggles of an overstretched public healthcare system. This experience drove me to become an entrepreneur and create a sustainable solution to address the healthcare inequalities in Botswana and Africa.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Kalafhi Medical Center is:
1. Patient centric (always intentional about putting the customer first to meet all their health needs)
2. Innovative (always looking for ways to improve - at the moment incorporating technology with smart hospitals and comprehensive tele-health solutions to increase coverage),
3. Unique model of decentralized primary health care services
Tell us a little about your team
Our accomplished team has over 110 years of collective experience amplified through local and global technical partnerships such as the Ever Group & Vaidam Health international.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
Our journey started when I was working as a doctor in a rural clinic, witnessing the struggles of an overstretched public healthcare system. This experience drove me to become an entrepreneur and create a sustainable solution to address the healthcare inequalities in Botswana and Africa. I am a medical doctor by profession and therefore no entrepreneurial background. I surround myself with professionals who are better qualified in the business space for our organization to progress, I partake in online short courses and training opportunities to learn more about entrepreneurship.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
Our expansion strategy involves strengthening primary healthcare, expanding smart hospitals in key areas in Botswana, expanding into the region and eventually listing on the Stock Exchange.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
The most satisfying aspect of being an entrepreneur for me is knowing that I am a part of the solution for my community not adding to the problem. That is very satisfying.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
The most important thing in business is to start and keep going, no matter how small or how challenging it may get. Sometimes you may have to change direction/strategy but the aim is to never stop going and growing.
To learn more about the impact driven work of Matlhogonolo Mongwa-Mouwane and her team at Kalafhi Medical Center, send an email to: mattymongwa@gmail.com or visit the company’s website and social media platforms:
Website: http://www.kalafhi.co.bw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kalafhimc/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kalafhi_medical_center/?hl=en
