In the first days of July 2026, a multi-sectoral team comprising the Botswana Public Health Institute (BPHI), the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture, the Botswana Red Cross Society and the World Health Organization (WHO) undertook a monitoring mission in Botswana's North-West District to assess progress in Community-Based Surveillance (CBS), a key component of the country's One Health early warning system supported through the Pandemic Fund.
The mission offered a valuable opportunity to engage with local authorities, community volunteers and district stakeholders who are helping strengthen the early detection and reporting of potential health threats affecting people, animals and the environment. Through Community-Based Surveillance, trained volunteers serve as the eyes and ears of their communities, identifying and reporting unusual events that may require further investigation and response.
Discussions in Shorobe highlighted the growing role that communities play in safeguarding health security. Volunteers shared experiences from the field and described how timely reporting can support authorities in responding to threats before they escalate into larger public health emergencies.
One particularly memorable encounter was with a grandmother whose grandchild had been bitten by a dog suspected of having rabies. Her story was a powerful reminder that health security starts within communities. Behind every alert is a human story, and behind every successful response is a network of trust, awareness and community action.
The second day of the mission brought together representatives from the human health, veterinary and environmental sectors to review findings from the field, discuss community alerts and examine district-level disease trends. Stakeholders reflected on lessons learned and identified opportunities to further strengthen multisectoral collaboration, a cornerstone of the One Health approach.
The monitoring mission forms part of the wider Pandemic Fund-supported project, Strengthening One Health Disease Surveillance and Response in Southern Africa, which is being implemented across eight countries to improve early warning systems, strengthen surveillance and enhance preparedness for climate-driven and emerging health threats.
In Botswana, the initiative is helping build stronger connections between communities, health services and decision-makers while also supporting broader investments in surveillance systems, workforce capacity and laboratory networks. Recent Pandemic Fund activities have included strengthening One Health laboratory systems, integrating surveillance efforts across sectors and advancing national coordination mechanisms for pandemic preparedness.
As Botswana continues to advance its One Health agenda, Community-Based Surveillance demonstrates how empowered communities can contribute to stronger, more resilient health systems. By placing people at the centre of disease detection and response, the country is building a foundation for faster action, better preparedness and improved protection of human, animal and environmental health.
