Gaborone, Botswana - 29 March 2019: The Botswana Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW), with technical support from the World Health Organization has commenced the development of its National Healthy Ageing strategic programme that will ensure comprehensive public-health response to meet the needs of older population in line with universal health coverage (UHC) direction of the sustainable development goals (SGDs).

WHO is providing technical support for orientation and capacity building of the MoHW staff and stakeholders. The survey coordinator, focal point for ageing, supervisors and data collectors (senior programme officers from MoHW/HQ) have been trained  on the methods for situation analysis of health and wellbeing of the older persons using WHO tools. The training, led by the age and health unit from AFRO, covered ageing survey methodology, team roles and responsibilities and field data collection strategy, including special interviewing tips and skills required for dealing with the elderly. The WHO generic survey tool was adapted to country context and translated to the local language.

The National Steering Committee for healthy and active ageing also benefited from the WHO support through sensitization on status of ageing in the region, the ongoing situation analysis process including assessment methods and approaches. Furthermore, WHO worked with the MoHW team to develop a roadmap towards timely finalization of the situation analysis report which will inform development of National policy and strategic framework for advancing health and well-being of older persons in Botswana (2019-2024) by May 2019.

This is a bold and courageous step by the government of Botswana to “leave no older person behind” through the development and implementation multi-sectoral national policy and strategic framework for advancing health and wellbeing of older persons. WHO will continue to provide technical support for monitoring and supportive supervision of field data collection, synthesis of findings from the field assessment and report writing. Furthermore, ongoing technical support will be provided for elaboration, dissemination, and implementation and monitoring of the strategy to ensure universal health coverage of older persons.