Botswana News

As countries around the world observed World Health Day on April 7, 2025, Botswana used the moment to reflect on its maternal health journey and renew its commitment to ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths. The national commemoration, jointly hosted by WHO Botswana and the Ministry of Health, brought together government officials, health experts, development partners, and citizens under the theme “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures.

The newly appointed World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Botswana and SADC, Dr. Fabian Ndenzako, officially presented his credentials to the Ministry of International Relations today. In his remarks, Dr. Ndenzako expressed his deep honour in taking on the role and reaffirmed WHO’s unwavering commitment to supporting Botswana’s health sector.

After an inspiring and impactful career spanning 25 years, Dodoli Wilfred, a long-serving and highly respected WHO professional, has officially retired from the World Health Organization. On 29th April 2025, Dodoli marked his final day with the organization, closing a remarkable chapter defined by dedication, innovation, and unwavering commitment to public health. At the time of his retirement, he was based at the WHO Country Office in Botswana, where he served in a key Programme Management role.

In response to a recent upsurge in malaria cases, the Ministry of Health in Botswana, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) initiative, has launched an emergency response to contain the outbreak and protect vulnerable communities.

Advancing public health today requires more than technical expertise, it demands strong, coordinated partnerships. WHO Botswana is leading by example, prioritizing strategic collaborations that align with national priorities and deliver lasting health impact.

Botswana has reinforced its efforts to eradicate polio as part of the global initiative outlined in the 2022-2029 Global Polio Eradication Strategy. At a recent National Certification Committee (NCC) meeting, experts reviewed Botswana’s progress in combating both wild poliovirus (WPV) and circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2). The country has made notable advancements in surveillance and vaccination, with Dr.

On the 14th of March 2025, Botswana joined the rest of the region in commemorating SADC Healthy Lifestyles Day in Goodhope under the theme: “Risk factors of today are diseases of tomorrow.”