Botswana News

For several years, Botswana has made significant strides in its HIV treatment program, managing to control the spread of the virus effectively. However, with longevity of the program, introduces the potential for the virus to mutate and thus resistance to the current medications not work as effectively to suppress. , thus a growing concern over the rise of drug resistance now threatens this progress.

The Multi-Country Assignment Team (MCAT) - South Africa Hub, covering South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Botswana, held a significant retreat from March 6-8, 2024. This event, hosted in South Africa, aimed to strengthen the coordination and operational modalities of MCATs to deliver strategic high-level technical assistance to these countries.

The Government of Botswana, with partners and key stakeholders supported by WHO, conducted a Joint External Evaluation (JEE) self-assessment in a stride towards enhancing Botswana’s health security.

The WHO-led Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) training program equips public health specialists to strengthen Botswana’s public health infrastructure. In the ever-evolving landscape of public health, timely and accurate health emergency monitoring is a vital resource to track and respond to outbreaks. 

The Ministry of Health, WHO, and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched the National Laboratory Strategic Plan for Botswana. The Strategic Plan holds the promise of numerous benefits for the country. It aims to modernize and upgrade laboratory infrastructure to better standards, ensuring the safe and efficient handling of samples. By expanding and improving diagnostic services, Botswana will be better equipped to detect, diagnose, and manage diseases promptly.

The Republic of Botswana and the World Health Organization today announced the designation of the Botswana National HIV Reference Laboratory as a WHO Collaborating Centre of Excellence, in recognition of the laboratory’s excellence in the field of HIV diagnosis and the potential for deeper collaboration with WHO in advancing the health and well-being of people living with HIV.

Botswana conducted a two-round polio supplementary vaccination campaign against the circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus type 2 (cVDPV2) in early 2023. Targeting the entire population of seven years old and below, 360.370 children were vaccinated during the first-round (February 2023), while 359.878 children were vaccinated across the country during the second round of the campaign (March 2023). cVDPV2 is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects children. It has plagued communities worldwide for decades.

The need for blood transfusions is constant, with thousands of people in Botswana relying on donated blood for various medical conditions, surgeries, and emergencies. However, the supply of blood often falls short of the demand.