Botswana News

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. 
Between 18 and 20 September 2023, in partnership with CDC Botswana, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WHO facilitated a three-day workshop with 34 specialists from human, animal, and environmental health sectors in Botswana.

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.  

In continued support to improve Botswana’s emergency preparedness and response plan, WHO is conducting Basic Emergency Care (BEC) training sessions across the country. Developed by WHO in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation for Emergency Medicine (IFEM), the training targets frontline health providers who manage acute life-threatening conditions with limited resources.

Ministry of Health together with WHO Botswana, commemorated World Malaria Day in Maun on the 12th of May. This event catered to a diverse audience, including local malaria survivors who have received life-saving malaria treatment. To mark this occasion, the event emphasized the need to bolster malaria response across the country, especially in malarious districts such as Bobirwa, Palapye, Mahalapye, and Okavango where cases of malaria continue to be reported.