The Minister of Health and Wellness, Honourable Dorcas Makgato delivered the first of a series of lectures on Health and Development at the University of Botswana Conference Centre. Fittingly, the inaugural lecture was on the importance of inter-sectoral action on the social determinants of health. Honourable Makgato intimated that her Ministry will work with other sectors to identify and address their impact on health to enable them accentuate the positives and mitigate the negatives.

This will include strengthening of policies and operational frameworks within and between sectors. She intimated that she has proposed  a high level inter-sectoral governing structure to guide action on the social determinants of health. She called on the private sector, civil society and communities to bring their comparative advantages and unique strengths to the national course while she urged the individual to take personal responsibility for their own health. Minister Makgato challenged academia to generate evidence and provide the necessary personnel, skill and knowledge base to ensure attainment of this important goal.

Honourable Makgato declared that the government is taking a similar All-of-Government and All-of Society approach to NCDs as was done for HIV/AIDS. She said the Ministry of Health and Wellness is undergoing comprehensive re-structuring that will strengthen and empower districts and take improved services closer to the people. The Minister concluded by acknowledging the challenges and conflicts that come with alligning sectoral mandates, particularly health and trade which she is eminently equipped and determined to deal with, given her experience as the immediate past Minister of Trade.

The lecture was organized by a Health and Development partnership between WHO, University of Botswana and the Ministry of Health and Wellness. It was attended by a varied audience including civil servants, UN Heads of agency and staff members, the Vice Chancellor University of Botswana, Dean and  University Faculty members and students, independent health practitioners, Civil Society and media. The next  Public Health lecture is planned for 25 May 2017.

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For more information, please contact:

GABORONE, Moagi, Email: gaboronem [at] who.int
Below:

01 Hon Minister Makgato butressing a point during the public address

02 A member of the audience interacting with the Mininster of Health