Gaborone, Botswana - 29 March 2018: The University of Botswana (UB) School of Nursing, which has been a WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Development (WHOCC) since 1990, has been re-designated with expanded terms of reference for another 4 years. The re-designation occurred after a visit by a WHO AFRO/HQ assessment team visited the centre in conjunction with the WHO country office. The team also held discussions with the Ministry of Health and Wellness in terms of the centre’s potential contribution to health and development in Botswana. The letter of re-designation was presented to the new UB Vice Chancellor Professor David Norris, by the WHO Representative Dr Martins Ovberedjo on behalf of the Regional Director Dr Matshidiso Moeti. The re-designation covers the period 1st April 2018 to 31st March 2022.

The WHOCC is expected to support the country and by extension English speaking Africa based on the following Terms of Reference (ToRs):

• Strengthen the contribution of nursing and midwifery in reducing the burden of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and promote health and wellness throughout the lifespan
• Promote strategy on women, children and adolescents (2016-2030), strengthen the capacity of nurses and midwives to provide quality services to reduce morbidity and mortality for mothers and the new-born
• Promote and conduct research on NCDs and maternal, new-borns, child and adolescents.

In his acceptance response, the Vice Chancellor expressed his appreciation for the re-designation of the UB School of Nursing as a WHOCC, describing the achievement as special recognition of the valuable work by the WHOCC and University of Botswana. He said the centre deserved a special award from the university leadership as its achievement has contributed to the challenge and expectation on universities to have a direct impact on new knowledge development, evidence generation, people’s lives and national development. He echoed that it is particularly interesting as the impact of the centre is expected to cover all of English speaking Africa. He pledged full support to the centre and working relationship with WHO. He thanked WHO for the trust in the University through the centre and the centre staff for making the university proud and a regional leader.

On his part, Dr Ovberedjo the WHO Representative (WR) congratulated Professor Norris for his appointment as the Vice Chancellor of Botswana’s premier university and acknowledged the valuable contribution by the university, including resources committed by the University of Botswana, to enhance the tripartite partnership between UB, Ministry of Health and Wellness and the WHO on health development in Botswana. He suggested that perhaps the Chancellor could mobilize heads of other institutions of higher learning and rally them around health and development. He presented the Vice Chancellor with copies of the AFRO Transformation Agenda (2015 – 2020) and the Country Cooperation Strategy (2014-2022); and re-affirmed WHO’s commitment to deepen engagement with the University of Botswana to enhance achievement of Universal Health Coverage targets in the country.

He concluded by saying that the re-designation of the Centre has a key role in the health development of the African region; the implementation of the ToRs will have a direct impact on the lives of communities.

The ceremony was also attended by Professor Y Mashalla (Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences), Professor KD Mogobe (Head of the School of Nursing and Director WHOCC), Professor N Seboni (WHOCC Co-ordinator) from UB. The WR was accompanied by Mrs BF Nfila, Mr M Gaborone and Mr N Mapuranga.