Botswana News

Already a proven leader in HIV/AIDS management and control, Botswana once again blazes a new trail for the rest of the world to follow. On 3rd June 2016, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Botswana Lt. Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama launched Botswana’s Treat All Strategy. The Strategy eloquently promotes Universal Health Coverage and ensures that all who test positive get treatment no matter their viral load or CD count.

Kanye, Botswana - 24th March 2017: The 2017 National World TB Day was commemorated in Kanye in the Southern part of the country under the theme. “Unite to End TB”. This campaign resonates very well with the Post 2015 TB global End TB strategy and seeks to foster strong stakeholder mobilization, high level advocacy and inclusiveness irrespective of nationality, age, gender or profession. The ceremony was attended by community members and dignitaries including members of parliament.

Gaborone, 30 June 2016 --  “An excellent surveillance and response system is key to achieving and maintaining malaria elimination”. This was the assertion of Dr Magda Robalo, WHO AFRO CDS Director  when officially opening a four-day innovative and intensive technical orientation for newly recruited district surveillance officers via video link. She commended the Government of Botswana for prioritizing surveillance and building requisite capacity.

Gaborone, Botswana, 7 April 2017 - Her Excellency, Katie Ransome, the British High Commissioner to Botswana visited the WHO Botswana Country Office to explore opportunities for collaboration between her office and the WHO Country Office. Her visit coincided with the presence of the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, in Botswana. Dr Moeti was in the country to attend the UN Africa Regional Director’s meeting.

8 July 2016 - The Botswana Ministry of Health continues the fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). The active search for Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) was conducted across 10 villages (11 schools) in the Chobe district commencing from the 23rd June to 30th June 2016. In 2015, LF mapping was conducted in 6 districts (Chobe, Ngami, Okavango, Tutume, North West, and Bobonong) bordering Zambia and Zimbabwe where the disease is known to be endemic. Out of these districts LF was found only in Chobe at a prevalence of 1%.  

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.

Botswana has successfully launched the introduction of the Measles Rubella vaccine introduction and Supplementary Immunization Activity (SIA) in the capital city Gaborone on Monday July 25th 2016 at a ground breaking ceremony.

On the 23rd of July, 2010 the Ministry of Health and her partners launched mass distribution of Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) in Gweta and Tsokotshaaa villages in the Tutume sub-district, one of the high malaria transmission areas. The activity was officially launched by the Minister of Health, Dr. John Seakgosing, who encouraged the public to exercise maximum co-operation with the government in the effort to eliminate malaria in Botswana by 2015.

Gaborone, Botswana, 5 March 2013 -- His Excellency the President Lt. General Seretse Khama Ian Khama officially opened the High Level Dialogue on the MDG Post-2015 Health Agenda on 5th September 2013 at the Gaborone International Conference and Convention Centre.

Commemoration of the African Vaccination Week and Child Health Days, Botswana

This year’s AVW focus in Botswana was to reduce the number of un-immunised children through reinforcing routine immunization.

To Commemorate African Vaccination Week and Child Health Days, additional support was provided to selected low performing districts during the period April 22- May 31, 2013. The districts selected were Gaborone, Kanye/Moshupa, Goodhope, Mahalapye and Okavango.