Botswana News

Gaborone, 01 June 2021 - Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are ancient diseases of poverty that impose a devastating human, the social and economic burden on the most vulnerable and marginalized populations. NTDs have come into focus based on the realization that beyond their direct negative impact on health, they contribute significantly to poverty and stigma that leave people unable to work, go to school, or participate in family and community life.

Lobatse, Botswana – 17 March 2021 

Gaborone, Botswana - 27 March 2021 – A shipment of 24 000 doses of the AstraZeneca South Korea COVID-19 Vaccine, has arrived at the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone. Obtained from SKBioscience in South Korea, it is the first shipment of 100 000 vaccines purchased by the Government of Botswana, enabled through the COVAX Facility.

The World Health Organization (WHO) country office in collaboration with the European Union Delegation in Botswana and the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) officially launched the 13,6 million BWP project “Strengthening epidemic preparedness and response to COVID-19 to reduce excess morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 and other epidemic-prone diseases in the high-risk population in Botswana”. The initiative is funded by the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).

Gaborone, Botswana - 17 December 2020: The Ministry of Health and Wellness, in partnership with the World Health Organization Country Office (WHO), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the CDC Foundation, launched Botswana’s first Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2017 Country Report. GATS is a global standard for systematic monitoring of Tobacco use (smoke and smokeless) by adults and for tracking key Tobacco control indicators in the age group 15 years and above.

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.

Francistown, Botswana - 4 December 2020: The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted an eight-day training of trainers (TOTs) workshop in Francistown on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) which targeted all the District Health Management Teams (DHMTs) across the country. The training was supported through the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid. The aim of the workshop was to prepare a team of Trainers to support the implementation of IPC practices.

Gaborone, Botswana - 27 November 2020: The Ministry of Health and Wellness with technical support of World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office conducted an Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response training to strengthen public health surveillance and response systems to COVID-19. The training was supported by the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid.

Gaborone, Botswana - 12 November 2020: The Seventy-second World Health Assembly designated 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife not only to honour the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, but also to recognize the daily contributions of nurses and midwives to the health and well-being of populations across the globe. Unfortunately, this noble gesture and celebration has been sadly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We however still want to appreciate them, even more, despite and because of COVID-19.