Scottish Livingstone Hospital - Molepolole - Botswana

Scottish Livingstone Hospital, also known as Molepolole Hospital, is a government-run district hospital located in Molepolole, Kweneng District, about 60 km (37 mi) from Gaborone in southern Botswana. Molepolole, with a population of around 70,000, is often referred to as the gateway to the Kalahari Desert.

The hospital was established by the United Free Church of Scotland in 1933 and officially opened on 3 September 1934, with Dr. Sheppard serving as its first physician. At the time, it accommodated only 20 beds.

In response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, a new hospital building was inaugurated in November 2007. Designed by Arup, it expanded capacity to 350 beds and introduced advanced heating and cooling systems.

The hospital includes an Infectious Disease Care Clinic that provides antiretroviral therapy. However, it faces several challenges: most doctors speak only English while many patients communicate primarily in Setswana, requiring the use of translators; medical resources are limited, with only one X-ray machine and no radiologist; waiting times are long; and the obstetrics department relies mainly on midwives.