Gaborone, Botswana - 09 December 2020: Following the National Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) Training in Francistown, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) in partnership with World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a two-day validation meeting on the Botswana National IPC Guidelines and to validate strategic documents which will guide the implementation of the IPC Plan. This guideline was developed by using WHO recommendations, based on currently available information on IPC and the current situation in Botswana. It addresses scientifically recommended IPC practices for routine health care as well as those needed during disease outbreaks and pandemics. 

The purpose of the National IPC Guidelines is to provide guidance for the protection of patients, healthcare workers and the community as a whole from Healthcare Associated Infections and other infections. The objectives of the meeting were to reach agreement on the content, ascertain the comprehensiveness and applicability of the document and determine whether concepts and statements are understandable and/or unambiguous in meaning. 

Speaking at the meeting, the Acting Director of the Department of Health Services Monitoring, Evaluation and Quality Assurance, Ms Judith Nawa indicated that effective Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions are of critical importance in assuring the provision of quality health services and are imperative in protecting or mitigating the effect of the pandemic on patients, health workers and the community. “This will create a platform for strengthening public-private partnership (PPP) to engage in technical dialogue on issues of health management in this country” Ms Nawa said.

 WHO Country office facilitated the validation meeting by providing technical guidance as an effort to strengthen IPC in the health system in Botswana. The validation meeting was attended by key stakeholders including Botswana Medicines Regulatory Authority (BOMRA), Bokamoso Private Hospital, Sidilega Private Hospital and others. All participants represented public-private sectors and actively contributed through group discussions, presentations and plenary sessions.

IPC is an integral element of patient safety and is applicable to all health services regardless of patient setting or care provider. The guidelines are to define the framework within which IPC measures shall be practiced by all health care workers in all health care facilities and service delivery points, provide acceptable standards for the practice of IPC as well as outline strategies that shall make IPC practices routine in all aspects of health care. Combating HAIs, anti-microbial resistance (AMR), outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics through infection prevention and control (IPC) measures has been scientifically proven to be effective.